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  4. C4 plants are more efficient in photosynthesis than C3 plants due to

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Q. $C_4$ plants are more efficient in photosynthesis than $C_3$ plants due to

AIPMTAIPMT 2010Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

Solution:

Rate of net photosynthesis in $C_3$ plants is 15-35 mg $CO /dm^2$ /hr while in $C_4$ plants it 40-80 mg CO,/ $dm^2$/hr. This variation in rate is due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is an inhibitory process which decreases the rate of photosynthesis. In excess of oxygen RUBP carboxylase converts to RuBP oxygenase. As a result glycolate synthesis is enhanced and leads to begin photorespiration. Photorespiration is negligible or absent in $C_4$ plants and present only in $C_3$ plants. So $C_4$ plants are photosynthetically more efficient.