The respiratory quotient at compensation point is 1. RQ is the ratio of volume of carbon dioxide released to the volume of oxygen utilised during the process of respiration. At compensation point the plant does not take exchange carbon dioxide or oxygen .

The value of RQ at the compensation point is an important concept in the field of plant physiology. To understand the value of RQ at the compensation point, let's break it down into several key points:

What is RQ?
RQ stands for Respiratory Quotient, which is the ratio of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced to oxygen (O2) consumed during respiration. It is a measure of the type of substrate being oxidized by an organism. RQ values range from 0.7 to 1.0, representing different types of substrates.

What is the compensation point?
The compensation point is the light intensity at which the rate of photosynthesis exactly matches the rate of respiration in a plant. At this point, the net production of oxygen and consumption of carbon dioxide are balanced.

The value of RQ at compensation point
At the compensation point, the value of RQ is 1.0. This means that for every molecule of oxygen consumed, one molecule of carbon dioxide is produced. At this point, the rates of photosynthesis and respiration are equal, resulting in no net exchange of gases with the environment.

Explanation
When light intensity is low, the rate of photosynthesis is less than the rate of respiration. In this situation, the plant consumes more oxygen than it produces, resulting in an RQ greater than 1.0. However, as light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases, leading to a higher production of oxygen. At a certain point, the rate of photosynthesis matches the rate of respiration, resulting in an RQ of 1.0 at the compensation point.

Visually appealing summary:
- RQ is the ratio of CO2 produced to O2 consumed during respiration.
- The compensation point is the light intensity where photosynthesis equals respiration.
- At the compensation point, the value of RQ is 1.0.
- RQ of 1.0 indicates the balance between oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production.
- As light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases, leading to an RQ of 1.0 at the compensation point.

In conclusion, the value of RQ at the compensation point is 1.0. This signifies the balance between the rates of photosynthesis and respiration, where there is no net exchange of gases with the environment.