Question

In Kranz anatomy, the bundle sheath cells have:

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

Answer 1

The correct option is B Thick walls, no intercellular spaces and large number of chloroplasts

Kranz anatomy is a special structure in the leaves of plants that have a C4 pathway of carbon dioxide fixation. The leaves contain a ring of mesophyll cells, containing small dimorphic chloroplasts concerned with the initial fixing of carbon dioxide, surrounding a sheath of parenchyma cells (the bundle sheath) which has large chloroplasts involved in the Calvin cycle. Bundle sheath cells surround the vascular bundles. The cells are thick-walled with no intercellular spaces. For some plants, C4 photosynthesis pathway has facilitated their adaptation to arid conditions, high temperatures, and marginal environments. Understanding the basics of this pathway has applications for improvements in agricultural productivity and alternative fuel development.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.