Minimum entropy production in photosynthesis

In this paper a flux-coupling model of photosynthesis is presented. By requ iring minimum entropy production. ii is found that the photosynthetic effic iency is essentially given by the square root of D/lambda. D and h are the diffusion coefficient and thermal conductivity of the rate-limiting process es in the chloroplast, respectively. For experimental values of D and X, th e efficiency is found to be 2.4-7.5%, with a likely value of 6.1%, whereas C4-plants are known to have an efficiency of 6.2%. We conclude that the pro cess of photosynthesis is in quantitative agreement with the principle of m inimum entropy production. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.