Photosynthesis and 'inverse respiration' in plants: an inevitable misconception?

Abstract

Studies have been published for about twenty years which discuss the misconception that I term 'inverse respiration' in green plants. Despite the proposal of several partial interpretations as to its origin, this misconception continues to be found among school children today. This article reflects on the influence on the origin of this conception of knowledge imparted in primary and secondary schools. As a conclusion to the analysis, a series of conceptual schemes are proposed, which could form the basis for teaching the subject of green plants in a way that prevents or substantially reduces the appearance of the notion of 'inverse respiration'.