The lowest wavelength of light that plants can absorb is in the range of approximately 400 to 700 nanometers (nm). This range is known as the visible spectrum, and it includes the colors of light from violet to red.
Plants contain specialized molecules called pigments that are responsible for absorbing light energy during photosynthesis. The primary pigment involved in capturing light for photosynthesis is chlorophyll, which absorbs light most efficiently in the red and blue regions of the spectrum.
The two main types of chlorophyll found in plants are chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. Chlorophyll a absorbs light most effectively in the red (around 660 nm) and blue (around 430 nm) regions of the spectrum. Chlorophyll b complements chlorophyll a by absorbing light in the blue (around 450 nm) and red-orange (around 640 nm) regions.
While plants primarily absorb light in the visible spectrum, they can also absorb light outside this range. There are certain accessory pigments, such as carotenoids, which can absorb light in the blue and green regions. These pigments help expand the range of light that plants can utilize for photosynthesis.
It's worth noting that different plant species may have variations in the specific wavelengths they can absorb most efficiently, depending on their evolutionary adaptations to different light environments. However, the visible spectrum (400-700 nm) encompasses the general range of light wavelengths that plants can absorb for photosynthesis.