What is the main product of the Calvin cycle?

The primary product of the Calvin cycle is glucose, which is a simple sugar that serves as an energy source for plants and other organisms. During the Calvin cycle, which occurs in the stroma of chloroplasts, carbon dioxide is fixed into organic molecules through a series of enzymatic reactions. The process uses ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P), which can subsequently be transformed into glucose and other carbohydrates.

While ATP and NADPH are essential for driving the reactions in the Calvin cycle, they are not the end products. Instead, they function as energy carriers to enable the conversion of carbon dioxide into glucose. Oxygen is produced as a byproduct in the light-dependent reactions, not in the Calvin cycle. Therefore, glucose stands out as the main product because it is a vital fuel that plants utilize for energy and structural functions.