Question

What is the leaf anatomy seen in C₄ plants?

Answer 1

Plants that follow the C₄ pathway:

1. Plants that follow the C₄ pathway in photosynthesis are known as C₄ plants.
2. Every photosynthetic plant follows the Calvin cycle but in some plants, there is a primary stage to the Calvin Cycle known as the C₄ pathway.
3. Plants in tropical desert regions commonly follow the C₄ pathway. Here, a 4-carbon compound called oxaloacetic acid (OAA) is the first product of carbon fixation. Such plants are special and have certain adaptations as well.
4. Corn, sugarcane and some shrubs are examples of plants that follow the C₄ pathway.

Leaf Anatomy in C₄ plants:

1. These plants have Kranz anatomy. "Kranz' means wreath and is a reflection of the arrangement of calls.
2. In Kranz anatomy, the mesophyll is undifferentiated and vascular bundles having large bundle sheath cells.
3. The mesophyll and bundle sheath cells are connected by plasmodesmata. The chloroplasts of the mesophyll cells are smaller. They have well-developed grana and a peripheral reticulum but no starch.