Uses of Glucose Produced by Photosynthesis — AQA GCSE Biology

The glucose made during photosynthesis is used by the plant in several important ways.

Five uses of glucose

Respiration — glucose is used to release energy for the plant's life processes.
Stored as starch — glucose is converted to starch for storage in roots, stems and leaves. Starch is insoluble, so it does not affect water movement (osmosis) and is good for storage.
Making cellulose — used to strengthen plant cell walls.
Making lipids (oils and fats) — for storage, especially in seeds.
Making amino acids — glucose is combined with nitrate ions (absorbed from the soil) to make amino acids, which are used to build proteins.

Starch is insoluble, so it:

does not dissolve and move away, and
does not affect the water potential of the cell (so it won't draw in water by osmosis).

Learn all five uses of glucose.
Explain why glucose is stored as starch (insoluble; doesn't affect osmosis).
Remember nitrate ions are needed to turn glucose into amino acids (then proteins).
Glucose for respiration releases energy; the rest is for building or storage.