Question

If the rate of respiration is more than the rate of photosynthesis,what will happen to the plant?

Answer 1

Respiration occurs all through night & day whereas photosynthesis occurs only in the day light. Respiration is basically using up the product formed from photosynthesis, so if rate of respiration increases, the plant will first try to find a solution to the problem by making several adaptations (like shed off excess leaves so that rate of respiration reduces) and even if the adaptations don't work the plant will eventually begin to dehydrate (dry leaves, bark, stem) and finally die. 

Answer 2

●Respiration is a catabolic(destructive) process and photosynthesis is an anabolic(constructive)process.

●In catabolic process bigger molecules are broken down into smaller molecules like the glucose molecules into water and carbon dioxide as in respiration.

●In anabolic process like photosynthesis from simple molecules like carbon dioxide (CO2) and water(H2O) complex carbohydrate molecules are produced in plants.

●Both constructive and destructive process must occur in a plant for its normal growth.

●If respiration overtakes photosynthesis in a plant it is starved off from the supply of food and there by it gets etiolated and finally it leads to the death of the plant.