A new plant is discovered in the desert and determined to be either a C₄ or CAM plant.Which measurement will best help you to determine whether it is a C₄ or CAM plant?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The activity of PEP carboxylase in the day and at night can differentiate between C₄ and CAM plants. C₄ plants have high PEP carboxylase activity during the day, while CAM plants have high PEP carboxylase activity during the night. This difference in activity is necessary for CAM plants to perform carbon fixation at night and minimize water loss during the day. Therefore, measuring the activity of PEP carboxylase can help determine whether the plant is a C₄ or CAM plant.

A New Plant Is Discovered in the Desert and Determined