Texas FFA Nursery Landscape Practice Exam

Which nutrient element is a core component of chlorophyll, thus essential for photosynthesis?

1. Iron

2. Magnesium

3. Nitrogen

4. Calcium

The correct answer is: Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for the formation of chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plants that is crucial for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll allows plants to capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy, which is used to produce glucose from carbon dioxide and water. Without sufficient magnesium, plants cannot synthesize chlorophyll effectively, leading to reduced photosynthetic efficiency and overall plant health. Iron is also important for plant health as it is involved in enzyme functions and is necessary for the synthesis of chlorophyll, but it does not form the chlorophyll molecule itself. Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for plant growth and is a key component of amino acids and proteins, playing a role in vegetative growth rather than directly impacting chlorophyll structure. Calcium, while important for cell wall integrity and signaling, does not have a direct role in the formation of chlorophyll or in photosynthesis. Thus, magnesium is the core component specifically linked to chlorophyll production and the photosynthetic process.