Photosynthesis in C4 plants is relatively less limited by atmospheric...
Plants such as sugarcane and sorghum fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into phosphoenol pyruvic acid to produce oxaloacetic acid( a C4 acid) in the presence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase(PEP carboxylase). Such plants are called C4 plants. In C4 plants, the primary product of OAA is mediated by PEP carboxylase, so it is relatively less limited by atmospheric CO2 levels.
View all questions of this test
Photosynthesis in C4 plants is relatively less limited by atmospheric...
Explanation:
C4 plants have evolved an efficient mechanism to overcome the limitations of photosynthesis in high temperature and low CO2 conditions. The primary fixation of CO2 in C4 plants occurs through the enzyme PEP carboxylase in mesophyll cells. This initial fixation produces a four-carbon acid, which is then transported into bundle sheath cells where it is decarboxylated to release CO2 for the Calvin cycle.
Reasons why photosynthesis in C4 plants is less limited by atmospheric CO2 levels:
1. Effective pumping of CO2 into bundle sheath cells: The four-carbon acids produced in mesophyll cells are efficiently transported to bundle sheath cells through specialized plasmodesmata connections. This spatial separation allows for a high concentration of CO2 in the bundle sheath cells, which can be used by the enzyme RuBisCO for the Calvin cycle.
2. Higher affinity of RuBisCO for CO2 in C4 plants: Although C4 plants use the enzyme PEP carboxylase for initial CO2 fixation, the Calvin cycle still requires the enzyme RuBisCO. Unlike in C3 plants, RuBisCO in C4 plants has a higher affinity for CO2 than for oxygen. This reduces the problem of photorespiration, which occurs when RuBisCO binds to oxygen instead of CO2. Therefore, C4 plants are less affected by atmospheric CO2 levels because RuBisCO can effectively fix CO2 even at low concentrations.
3. Primary fixation of CO2 via PEP carboxylase: The initial fixation of CO2 in C4 plants is carried out by the enzyme PEP carboxylase, which has a higher affinity for CO2 than RuBisCO. This allows C4 plants to effectively fix CO2 even at low concentrations. PEP carboxylase does not have the oxygenase activity associated with RuBisCO, so there is no photorespiration in the mesophyll cells.
Overall, the combination of efficient CO2 pumping, higher affinity of RuBisCO for CO2, and the primary fixation of CO2 via PEP carboxylase allows C4 plants to perform photosynthesis more efficiently, even in low CO2 conditions.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed NEET study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in NEET.