Entiendo que el texto puede hablar de plantas y alude a los procesos metabólicos que tienen lugar en la planta en ausencia de luz (fase oscura).


Fase oscura
Fase oscura. ... Fase oscura. Esta fase es así llamada por no necesitar de la luz para efectuarse. Se lleva a cabo dentro de los *cloroplastos* tanto en el ...
http://linux.ajusco.upn.mx/fotosintesis/fase_oscura.html

The dark phase
... It is during the light independent phase of photosynthesis that the carbon dioxide absorbed by the plant is used. next page.
www.botany.uwc.ac.za/ecotree/ photosynthesis/darkphase.htm


Ref ID : 3739 JGPeak and MJPeak; Heterotrophic (Dark) CO2 Fixation ... ***Dark CO2 ***fixation increased transiently during the growth of cells under photoautotrophic (CO2, light) and heterotrophic (glucose,*** dark) conditions.*** ...
www.nies.go.jp/chiiki1/protoz/refere/id3999/3739.htm

Lecture 12 ...In the first of the ***dark reactions*** CO2 gas is added to a 5 carbon sugar, ribulose bisphosphate; This makes a 6 carbon intermediate, which immediately ...
members.aol.com/BearFlag45/ Biology1A/LectureNotes/lec12.html



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Note added at 18 mins (2005-05-08 16:50:46 GMT)
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http://lovett-pinetum.org/photosynthesis.htm
(...)
Photosynthesis converts these energy- depleted compounds (ADP and NADP+) back to the high energy forms (ATP and NADPH) and the energy thus produced in this chemical form is utilized to drive the chemical reactions necessary for synthesis of sugars and other carbon containing compounds (e.g., proteins, fats). The production of high energy ATP and NADPH in plants occurs in what is known as Light Phase Reactions (Z Scheme) (requires sunlight). The energy releasing reactions which converts them back to energy-depleted ADP and NADP is known as ***Dark Phase Reactions*** (Calvin Cycle) (does not require light) in which the synthesis of glucose and other carbohydrates occurs.
(...) Follows a useful diagram.
So we can summarize by saying that the photosynthetic plants trap solar energy to form ATP and NADPH (Light Phase) and then use these as the energy source to make carbohydrates and other biomolecules from ***carbon dioxide and water (Dark Phase)***, simultaneously releasing oxygen in to the atmosphere.