Despite the enormous amount of solar energy that plants are exposed to, photosynthesis is only able to transform about 1% to 2% of that energy into stored chemical energy. Which of the following contributes to this inefficiency?
A)the production of 2-phosphoglycolate
B)the strong preference of rubisco for oxygen over carbon dioxide
C)the presence of xanthophylls and other pigments besides chlorophyll in the thylakoid membrane
D)the presence of two photosystems (I and II)in the thylakoid membrane that compete for high-energy electrons

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The production of 2-phosphoglycolate is a result of photorespiration, which occurs when rubisco fixes oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, leading to energy loss and reduced photosynthetic efficiency.

Despite the Enormous Amount of Solar Energy That Plants Are