Question

Explain the major difference between C3 and C4 plants, using the following key words.

RuBisCO, CO2, O2, mesophyll cells, bundle sheath cells, malate

Answer 1

C3 PLANTS	C4 PLANTS
occurence of photosynthesis in mesophyll tissues	It occurs both in mesophyll and bundle sheath cells
CO2 acceptor is RuBisCO	CO2 acceptor is PEP carboxylase
1st stable product is a 3C compound called 3PGA	1st stable product is a 4C compound called 4OAA
Photolysis of water and evolution of O2 doesnot occur	Photolysis of water and evolution of O2 occurs
Absence of Krantz anatomy	Presence of Krantz anatomy
Example: Rice, Wheat	example: Maize, Amaranthus
Uses calvin cycle for dark reaction	Uses hatch and slack pathway
Only one CO2 acceptor	Two CO2 acceptors are present
CO2 fixation is slow	CO2 fixation is comparitively faster than C3 plants