C4 photosynthesis boosts growth by altering physiology, allocation and size (2024)

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C4 photosynthesis boosts growth by altering physiology, allocation and size? ›

Scientists discover C4 photosynthesis boosts growth by altering size and structure of plant leaves and roots. Plants using C4 photosynthesis grow 20-100 per cent quicker than more common C3 plants by altering the shape, size and structure of their leaves and roots, according to a new study.

C4 plants make more efficient use of available light than their C3 relatives, particularly at high temperatures; this makes C4 plants particularly successful in areas with high light, low water, and low nutrients.

In C4 photosynthesis, where a four-carbon compound is produced, unique leaf anatomy allows carbon dioxide to concentrate in 'bundle sheath' cells around Rubisco. This structure delivers carbon dioxide straight to Rubisco, effectively removing its contact with oxygen and the need for photorespiration.

The C4 pathway increases the photosynthetic yield of plants by 2 to 3 times as compared to C3 plants. The C4 plants can perform photosynthesis at a very high rate even when the stomata are nearly closed. The C4 pathway increases the adaptability of C4 plants to survive in high temperature and high like intensity areas.

Why are C₄ plants more suited to hot climates than C₃ plants? They do not close their stomata in hot, dry weather. They evolved in cold weather but migrated to the tropics, where they were more suitable. They suspend photosynthesis in the heat.

C4 photosynthesis is more efficient than C3 photosynthesis in warmer climates, where yield potential is high. The lower photosynthetic efficiency in C3 plants is due to a dual activity in the enzyme that fixes CO₂, Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO; Brown et al., 2011).

Under high temperature, high light, and the current CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, the C4 pathway is more efficient than C3 photosynthesis because it increases the CO2 concentration around the major CO2 fixating enzyme Rubisco. The oxygenase reaction and, accordingly, photorespiration are largely suppressed.

By contrast, with their adaptations, C4 plants are not as limited by carbon dioxide, and under elevated carbon dioxide levels, the growth of C4 plants did not increase as much as C3 plants. In field studies with elevated carbon dioxide levels, yields of C4 plants were also not higher (Taub, 2010).

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What is the purpose of the C4 pathway quizlet? ›

C4 plants have a growth advantage over C3 plants in hot climates because of reduced rates of photorespiration. Sugarcane plants and crabgrass grow in a hot and humid tropical climate and use the C4 pathway for CO2 fixation.

The advantage of C₄ plants is that the carbon dioxide fixation and Calvin cycle take place in different parts of the leaf which minimizes photorespiration and efficiently fixes carbon dioxide. C₄ plants are usually found in hot regions. Examples of C₄ plants are corn, sorghum, and sugarcane.

Plants that use CAM photosynthesis collect sunlight during the day and fix CO2 molecules at night. Answer: The primary distinction between C4 and CAM plants is how they minimise water loss. C4 plants move CO₂ molecules to reduce photorespiration, whereas CAM plants decide when to extract CO₂ from the environment.

The mechanism of CO₂ concentration, the higher CO₂ assimilation capacity, and the reduction of stomatal conductance help C4 plants maintain higher rates of carbon gain compared to C3 plants [19,20], 50–300% higher water use efficiency [20], and higher nitrogen use efficiency [21,22].

Identify the advantages of C4 photosynthesis

Lower photorespiration: In the C4 pathway, CO2 is concentrated around RuBisCO, which increases the ratio of CO2 to O2, reducing the chance of RuBisCO binding with oxygen. This leads to a significant reduction in photorespiration.

C4 and CAM photosynthesis are both adaptations to arid conditions, because they are more efficient in the conservation of water. CAM plants are also able to “idle,” thus saving energy and water during periods of harsh conditions.

The advantages of C4 photosynthesis, such as lower photorespiration and higher efficiency in high temperatures, light intensity, and low CO2 conditions, allow C4 plants to thrive better in tropical and subtropical regions, arid areas, or locations with high solar radiation.

Answer and Explanation:

C4 and CAM strategies both reduce photorespiration that occurs in a higher amount in C3 photosynthesis. They use phosphoenolpyruvate for the fixation of carbon dioxide. PEP does not react with oxygen that is the reason for reduced photorespiration in C4 photosynthesis.

The main adaptive advantage of the C4 and CAM photosynthesis strategies over the C3 strategy primarily lies in their ability to help the plant conserve water and synthesize glucose efficiently under hot, dry conditions.

The advantage of the C4 pathway lies in its CO₂ concentration mechanism, which minimizes the oxidation reaction, thereby avoiding the occurrence of photorespiration as much as possible.