Question

When wheat and sugarcane leaves are fed with radioactive ${}^{14}C{O}_2$, in which molecule would the radioactive appear first in these plants?

• A. Wheat – 3–Phosphoglycerate, Sugarcane – Oxaloacetate
• B. Wheat – 3–Phosphoglycerate, Sugarcane – 3–Phosphoglycerate
• C. Wheat – Oxaloacetate, Sugarcane – Oxaloacetate
• D. Wheat – Malate, Sugarcane – 3–Phosphoglycerate

Answer 1

The correct option is A Wheat – 3–Phosphoglycerate, Sugarcane – Oxaloacetate

Wheat is a $C_3$ plant and sugarcane is a $C_4$ plant. In $C_3$ plant, first stable product is 3 carbon compound 3-phosphoglycerate and in $C_4$ plants first stable product is 4 carbon compound oxaloacetic acid (oxaloacetate).