Question

How is the process of carbon fixation in CAM plants different from the process in C3 and C4 plants? a. CAM plants require a larger exchange of gases in the atmosphere than C3 and C4 plants. b. CAM plants are better adapted for moist, low light areas than C3 and C4 plants. c. CAM plants conserve water by allowing transpiration to occur at night rather than the day like it does with C3 and C4 plants. d. All of the above

Answer 1

c.CAM plants conserve water by allowing transpiration to occur at night rather than the day like it does with C3 and C4 plants

Answer 2

The correct answer would be option C.

Plants evolved different methods to prevent or reduce the effects of photorespiration.

The C3 plants are the most common plants which do not have any special methods or physiology to prevent photorespiration.

The C4 are the plants in which carbon fixation and the Calvin cycle takes place in different cells. Carbon is fixed in the mesophyll cells with the help of PEP carboxylase enzyme. It fixes carbon and converts PEP into oxaloacetate. The Calvin cycle takes place in the bundle-sheath cells.

In contrast, CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism) plants are those in which carbon fixation and Calvin cycle are separated into time. The carbon is fixed during the night as it helps in reducing the loss of water through transpiration.

The Calvin cycle takes place during the day time in the same cell, that is, mesophyll cell.