Question

What stomata open at night?

Answer 1

Stomata:

1. Stomata are responsible for controlling the rate of gas exchange during photosynthesis. Stomata assist plants in absorbing carbon dioxide gas and releasing oxygen.
2. Stomata open and close in response to light, carbon dioxide levels, and changes in environmental conditions.
3. Stomata often open throughout the day and close at night.
4. However, opposite mechanisms exist in other plants, such as xerophyte plants like orchids and pineapples, which survive in dry circumstances.

Stomata opening at night:

1. Stomata in xerophytes open at night and close during the day as a water-saving adaptation.
2. At night, CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism) plants open their stomata.
3. CAM plants demonstrate carbon fixing via crassulacean acid metabolism.
4. CAM plants are desert succulents with stomata that open at night and fix carbon dioxide into organic acids such as malic acid and oxaloacetic acid.
5. It is designed to decrease water loss.
6. During the day, the stomata shut and organic acids are decarboxylated, releasing carbon dioxide, which is then fixed into sugars via the RuBisCo and Calvin cycles.
7. They absorb CO₂ at night and continue photosynthesis during the day.
8. Examples of CAM plants: Cacti, succulents, orchids, bromeliads, etc.