Question

In Kranz anatomy, the bundle sheath cell have

• A. Thick walls, many intercellular spaces and no chloroplasts
• B. Thin walls, no intercellular spaces and large number of chloroplasts
• C. Thick walls, no intercellular spaces and large number of chloroplasts
• D. Thin walls, many intercellular spaces and several chloroplasts

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Thick walls, no intercellular spaces and large number of chloroplasts

Kranz anatomy is found in leaves of $C_4$ plants. The $C_4$ pathway requires the presence of two types of cells i.e. mesophyll cells and bundle sheath cells. The particularly large cells around the vascular bundles of $C_4$ plants are called bundle sheath cells, these cells may form several layers around the vascular bundles, they are characterized by having a large number of chloroplasts, grana are absent, thick walls impervious to gaseous exchange and no extracellular spaces. This special anatomy of leaves of the $C_4$ plants is called Kranz anatomy. 'Kranz' means wreath and is a reflection of the arrangement of cells.