The C₄ pathway is necessary in tropical plants because: A) at high temperatures, the plants cannot maintain sufficient water levels within the cells. B) tropical plants do not have proper day/light cycles to maintain the balance of CO₂ necessary for carbohydrate storage. C) at high temperatures, the oxygenase activity of rubisco is high. D) All of the above. E) None of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

At high temperatures, rubisco, the enzyme responsible for fixing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, has increased oxygenase activity, meaning it starts to use oxygen instead of carbon dioxide. This results in a loss of fixed carbon and a waste of energy. The C4 pathway helps tropical plants to overcome this problem by concentrating carbon dioxide in specialised cells before it reaches rubisco.

The C4 Pathway Is Necessary in Tropical Plants Because

The C₄ Pathway Is Necessary in Tropical Plants Because