Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of photorespiration in plants?

Answer 1

Photorespiration:

1. Photorespiration is a plant metabolic process in which the enzyme RuBisCO oxygenates RuBP and so wastes some of the energy obtained by photosynthesis.

Disadvantages of photorespiration:

1. For a variety of reasons, it reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis. Carbon is oxidised, as opposed to photosynthesis, which converts carbon to glucose.
2. It is now critical to re-synthesize ribulose bisphosphate and reduce phosphoglycolate production.
3. It is a wasteful process, as it does not produce ATP or NADPH.

Advantages of photorespiration:

1. It aids the plant's immunological system.
2. It aids in the maintenance of cellular redox equilibrium.