Class 11 Botany simulations · Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

C₃ vs C₄ plants and photorespiration

Compare a C₃ leaf with the Kranz anatomy of a C₄ leaf, and see how temperature affects their photosynthesis.

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What to notice

C₄ plants concentrate CO₂ in bundle-sheath cells, so RuBisCO rarely binds O₂ — photorespiration is negligible.

Key relation

C₃: first product 3-PGA (3C) ; C₄: first product OAA (4C)

Try this

Raise the temperature to 40 °C. Which plant keeps its rate?

What you can change

• Plant: choose C₃ (e.g. wheat, rice), C₄ (e.g. maize, sorghum)
• Temperature: 10 to 45 °C

More in Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

• Calvin cycle bookkeeping
• Light reaction: the Z scheme
• Limiting factors of photosynthesis

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