Question

What are the ways by which carbon fixation takes place?

Answer 1

Carbon fixation: This is the physiological process by which inorganic carbon is incorporated into organic compounds. This is primarily performed by green plants via photosynthesis whereby they utilize the carbon present in carbon dioxide of the air for producing glucose.
The various ways by which this carbon fixation can occur are:

1. C3 or the Calvin cycle: This cycle is termed C3 as the first formed compound (Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate) that has three-carbon molecules. It occurs in the bundle sheath of green leaves.
2. C4 cycle: The first stable compound is a four-carbon compound (Oxaloacetic acid). This takes place in the mesophyll tissue of the green leaves.
3. CAM cycle: This is also called the crassulacean acid metabolism cycle. It is a special adaptation for plants growing in dry, arid conditions. It takes place in the mesophyll cells of both the C3 and C4 plants.