Question

Plant shows adaptations to hot and dry climates is
I. CAM
II. Mycorrhizae
III. $C_4$ photosynthesis

• A. I only
• B. II only
• C. I and II
• D. I and III
• E. I, II, and III

Answer 1

The correct option is D I and III

Plants have adaptations to help them survive (live and grow) in different areas. The deserts are regions with hot and dry climates all the year round. Lack of rainfall or very little rainfall makes the climate extremely dry for the survival of plants. Hence the plants adapt to this by storing water in stems, roots, or fleshy leaves and by employing CAM process. Instead of synthesizing carbohydrates, the CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) photosynthetic process synthesize Crassulacean acid during the day while their stomata are closed and store it in their tissues. At night, when temperatures are lower and humidity higher, they open their stomata and break down the acids into carbohydrates using carbon dioxide from the air. CAM is extremely efficient at using water. Further, the desert plants follow a C4 photosynthesis process where an alternative pathway of Calvin cycle takes place during the dark phase of photosynthesis