Which of the following is not true for CAM plants?a)Their photorespira...
In CAM plants, since CO2 is concentrated around Rubisco, photorespiration is minimized and efficiency is maximized. CO2 collected during night is converted to malate and stored in vacuoles until it is used up in photosynthesis.
View all questions of this test
Which of the following is not true for CAM plants?a)Their photorespira...
CAM stands for Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, which is a photosynthetic adaptation found in certain plants that live in arid environments. CAM plants have several unique characteristics that allow them to conserve water and effectively carry out photosynthesis in low CO2 conditions. Let's analyze each option to determine which one is not true for CAM plants.
a) Their photorespiration rate is very low or negligible:
- This statement is true for CAM plants. Unlike C3 and C4 plants, which have high photorespiration rates, CAM plants have a much lower or negligible photorespiration rate. This is because CAM plants close their stomata during the day to minimize water loss, which reduces the availability of oxygen for photorespiration.
b) Their photorespiration rate is very high:
- This statement is not true for CAM plants. As mentioned above, CAM plants have a low or negligible photorespiration rate. This is one of the adaptations that make them efficient in water conservation.
c) Their carbon dioxide is converted to malate, which is stored in vacuoles during daylight:
- This statement is true for CAM plants. During the night, CAM plants open their stomata and take in carbon dioxide, which is converted to malate (a 4-carbon organic acid) in the mesophyll cells. The malate is then stored in vacuoles until daylight.
d) Their carbon dioxide is converted to malate and stored in bundle-sheath cells during daylight:
- This statement is also true for CAM plants. During the day, when the stomata are closed to prevent water loss, the malate stored in vacuoles is decarboxylated in the mesophyll cells, releasing CO2. This CO2 is then fixed by the enzyme RuBisCO in the bundle-sheath cells, where the Calvin cycle takes place.
Therefore, the correct answer is option B and D, as both statements are not true for CAM plants. CAM plants have a low or negligible photorespiration rate, and their carbon dioxide is converted to malate, which is stored in vacuoles during the day and then decarboxylated in the mesophyll cells. The CO2 released is fixed in the bundle-sheath cells.