A new experimental pesticide is being tested by a large agricultural chemical company. An unfortunate side effect in plants treated with this new product is a decrease in ATP production in the chloroplasts. (Interestingly, production of ATP in the mitochondria is unaffected.) Given this observation, which of the following would you expect to be DIRECTLY affected by the new pesticide?
A)the rate of photorespiration
B)the transport of electrons along the photosynthetic electron transport chain
C)the carboxylation of RuBP by rubisco
D)the oxidation of RuBP by rubisco

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

ATP is an essential component in the process of photorespiration, therefore, a decrease in ATP production in the chloroplasts is expected to directly affect the rate of photorespiration. The other processes listed (transport of electrons, carboxylation of RuBP, oxidation of RuBP) are also important for photosynthesis, but they do not directly involve ATP production in the chloroplasts.

A New Experimental Pesticide Is Being Tested by a Large