A : Photorespiration decreases the rate of photosynthesis.R : RUBISCO ...
A : Photorespiration decreases the rate of photosynthesis.R : RUBISCO ...
Photorespiration is a process that occurs in plants where there is a decrease in the efficiency of photosynthesis. It happens when the enzyme responsible for fixing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, called RUBISCO, also acts as an oxygenase instead of a carboxylase. This leads to the breakdown of organic compounds and the release of carbon dioxide, which reduces the net fixation of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.
Assertion: Photorespiration decreases the rate of photosynthesis.
Reason: RUBISCO can also behave as an oxygenase.
To determine the correctness of the assertion and reason, let's analyze each statement individually.
Assertion: Photorespiration decreases the rate of photosynthesis.
This statement is true. Photorespiration is a wasteful process that occurs when plants close their stomata to conserve water. In a normal photosynthetic process, carbon dioxide is fixed by RUBISCO and converted into organic compounds. However, in photorespiration, RUBISCO also acts as an oxygenase, resulting in the breakdown of organic compounds and the release of carbon dioxide. This process consumes energy and reduces the net fixation of carbon dioxide, ultimately decreasing the rate of photosynthesis.
Reason: RUBISCO can also behave as an oxygenase.
This statement is also true. RUBISCO is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the process of photosynthesis. Its main function is to fix carbon dioxide by catalyzing its attachment to a molecule called RuBP (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate). However, under certain conditions such as high oxygen levels or low carbon dioxide levels, RUBISCO can also react with oxygen instead of carbon dioxide. This reaction is called oxygenation, and it leads to the breakdown of organic compounds and the release of carbon dioxide, causing photorespiration.
Explanation:
The reason provided in the statement correctly explains why photorespiration decreases the rate of photosynthesis. When RUBISCO acts as an oxygenase, it results in the wasteful process of photorespiration, which reduces the net fixation of carbon dioxide and decreases the rate of photosynthesis. Therefore, both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
In conclusion, photorespiration decreases the rate of photosynthesis because RUBISCO can also behave as an oxygenase, leading to the breakdown of organic compounds and the release of carbon dioxide. This wasteful process reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis and hampers the plant's ability to fix carbon dioxide.