What is the main carbohydrate produced during photosynthesis?

• A. Glucose
• B. Fructose
• C. Sucrose
• D. Lactose

Answer: (A)

Light energy drives the synthesis of organic sugars from carbon dioxide and water. The end product of this process in plants is glucose, the simple sugar formed directly by the Calvin cycle from fixed CO2. Glucose then becomes the starting point for making starch for storage or for forming sucrose to transport sugar around the plant. Lactose isn’t produced by plants, and while fructose is related, glucose is the primary carbohydrate produced during photosynthesis.