wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

C4 plants are more efficient in photosynthesis than C3 plants due to

A
higher leaf area
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
B
presence of larger number of chloroplasts in the leaf cells
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
C
presence of thin cuticle
No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
D
lower rate of photorespiration
Right on! Give the BNAT exam to get a 100% scholarship for BYJUS courses
Open in App
Solution

The correct option is D lower rate of photorespiration
RuBisCO has both carboxylase and oxygenase activities, and hence in C3 plants, some of the RuBP undergoes photorespiration instead of entering the Calvin cycle. On the other hand, in C4 plants, the primary carbon acceptor is phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and not RuBP. The PEP, on carboxylation, is converted into oxaloacetate inside the mesophyll cells. This oxaloacetate is then converted to malate which is transported into the bundle sheath cells. Here, malate undergoes decarboxylation to release CO2. The walls of the bundle sheath cells are thick, which prevents the escape of CO2. Thus, CO2 accumulates in these cells, and makes all the RuBP present there enter the Calvin cycle and not photorespiration. This makes C4 plants more efficient in photosynthesis.

flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
0
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon