Can the Calvin cycle occur in the dark?

Can the light reactions in photosynthesis occur without the Calvin Cycle?

• Would the light reactions, with continual light, be able to continually produce ATP and NADPH?

• Answer:

  I think you have a slight misconception about the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis. The dark reactions, that is, the Calvin cycle reactions, go on all the time, not just in the dark. So NADP+ and ADP are recycled continuously by the Calvin cycle. And so there can be continuous production of NADPH and ATP - as long as there is light to provide the energy. The light reactions require light, but the dark reactions do not require dark . . .