Nutrition
The Bhut jolokia is a classified as a primary
producer and is autotrophic. This means that this plant
converts in organic matter, sunlight for example, into organic
matter that is used to generate energy. This process is known as
photosynthesis and all plants, such as
black pepper,
ginger,
oranges, and
saw palmetto, undergo this process to produce it
source of nutrients. Below is a simple diagram, developed
by Daniel Mayer, showing what materials need to be present in
order to begin photosynthesis and what is being produced.
Light Reactions
Photosynthesis begins with the light depended reactions. During this portion of the process, chlorophyll pigments located within the chloroplasts of a plant cells absorb a photon of light. This causes an electron transport chain to generate. These electrons are used for the reduction of the compound NADP to NADPH. Water taken in by the roots donates its hydrogen, causing oxygen to be released. The hydrogen is then used to activate ATP synthesis, thus generating ATP. Both ATP and NADPH are passed along and used in the next stage of photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle.
Calvin Cycle
The second process in
photosynthesis is known as the Calvin cycle or the light independent
reactions. It is here were the enzyme RuBisCO "captures" carbon
dioxide molecules from the atmosphere and uses them to develop
organic sugars. Here NADPH and ATP are also needed in order to
complete the process of the Calvin cycle. As a result of this
process, organic sugars are made and stored as fruit (the chilies of
the Bhut jolokia). Below is the overall equation of
photosynthesis.
For a more in depth look into photosynthesis click here for North Dakota State University's animation of the light reactions, and here Brightstorm Inc.'s description of the Calvin cycle.