Question

Is bamboo a C₃ or C₄ plant?

Answer 1

C₃ plants:

1. Carbon fixation occurs once only.
2. The initial product is 3-phosphoglycerate with 3 carbon atoms.
3. All the steps of the dark reaction occur in the mesophyll cells only.
4. Ribulose bisphosphate is the primary acceptor of carbon dioxide.
5. These plants are present in temperate climates.
6. Examples are rice, wheat, soybeans, etc.

C₄ plant:

1. Carbon fixation occurs twice.
2. A four-carbon acid is the first stable intermediate product ie, oxaloacetate.
3. The initial steps occur in mesophyll cells and the rest occur in bundle sheath cells.
4. Phosphoenol pyruvate is the primary acceptor of carbon dioxide.
5. These plants are present in tropical climates.
6. Photorespiration does not occur.
7. Examples are sorghum, maize, sugarcane, etc.

Bamboo:

1. These are woody plants with hollow stems of the poaceae family.
2. It is a C₃ plant.