According to the study, the researchers discovered a new type of photosynthesis that uses near-infrared light instead of photosynthesis, which is typical of visible red light. Red light photosynthesis involves the green pigment chlorophyll-a, which collects energy from plants for red light. The researchers found that some cyanobacteria do not use chlorophyll-a when growing in shadow regions rich in near-infrared light, and instead use chlorophyll-f. This allows cyanobacteria to grow on darker coastal rocks and the like.
Researchers had previously known the existence of chlorophyll-f; on the contrary, the study revealed its application in a new type of photosynthesis, which is used in environments where near-infrared light is more easily available. Researchers will This type of photosynthesis is called 'beyond the red limit' and it has great inspiration for astrobiology.
The researchers stated that the field of astrobiology uses the 'red limit' (ie, the minimum energy required for photosynthesis in plants) to determine whether different plants may have complex life forms. Prof. Bill Rutherford, the principal investigator of the study, said: This finding 'is changing the content of textbooks.'