A leaf cell consists of several metabolic compartments -- The use of energy from sunlight by photosynthesis is the basis of life on earth -- Photosynthesis is an electron transport process -- ATP is generated by photosynthesis -- Mitochondria are the power station of the cell -- The Calvin cycle catalyzes photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation -- In the photorespiratory pathway phosphoglycolate formed by the oxygenase activity of RubisCo is recycled -- Photosynthesis implies the consumption of water -- Polysaccharides are storage and transport forms of carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis -- Nitrate assimilation is essential for the synthesis of organic matter -- Nitrogen fixation enables the nitrogen in the air to be used for plant growth -- Sulfate assimilation enables the synthesis of sulfur-containing substances -- Phloem transport distributes photoassimilates to the various sites of consumption and storage -- Products of nitrate assimilation are deposited in plants as storage proteins -- Glycerolipids are membrane constituents and function as carbon stores -- Secondary metabolites fulfill specific ecological functions in plants -- A large diversity of isoprenoids has multiple functions in plant metabolism -- Phenylpropanoids comprise a multitude of plant secondary metabolites and cell wall components -- Multiple signals regulate the growth and development of plant organs and enable their adaptation to environmental conditions -- A plant cell has three different genomes -- Protein biosynthesis occurs at different sites of a cell -- Gene technology makes it possible to alter plants to meet requirements of agriculture, nutrition, and industry.