Even
though a very few cells in a C4
plant carry out the biosynthetic – Calvin pathway, yet
they are highly productive. Can you discuss why?
Even though a very few cells in a C4 plant carry out the biosynthetic – Calvin pathway, yet they are highly productive. Can you discuss why?
The
productivity of a plant is measured by the rate at which it
photosynthesises. The amount of carbon dioxide present in a plant is
directly proportional to the rate of photosynthesis. C4
plants have a mechanism for increasing the concentration of carbon
dioxide. In C4 plants, the Calvin cycle occurs in the
bundle-sheath cells. The C4 compound (malic acid) from the
mesophyll cells is broken down in the bundle-sheath cells. As a
result, CO2 is released. The increase in CO2 ensures
that the enzyme RuBisCo does not act as an oxygenase, but as a
carboxylase. This prevents photorespiration and increases the rate of
photosynthesis. Thus, C4 plants are highly productive.
The productivity of a plant is measured by the rate at which it photosynthesises. The amount of carbon dioxide present in a plant is directly proportional to the rate of photosynthesis. C4 plants have a mechanism for increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide. In C4 plants, the Calvin cycle occurs in the bundle-sheath cells. The C4 compound (malic acid) from the mesophyll cells is broken down in the bundle-sheath cells. As a result, CO2 is released. The increase in CO2 ensures that the enzyme RuBisCo does not act as an oxygenase, but as a carboxylase. This prevents photorespiration and increases the rate of photosynthesis. Thus, C4 plants are highly productive.
