Types of Plants Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is Rubisco?
An enzyme in the Calvin cycle that can use O2 and CO2 as a substrate (both compete for the same active site)
What is Photorespiration?
When O2 reacts with RuBP and reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis to produce CO2 (build up of O2 and is forced to fix to RuBP to make CO2 + H2O)
Where do C3 plants live? Examples of C3 plants?
Cool, moist environments, temperate, lots of H2O available. Examples include rice, wheat, soybeans, lillie’s, maple trees, evergreen
What are C3 plants?
They do not have photosynthetic adaptations to reduce photorespiration, uses normal photosynthesis processes (uses carbon fixation to form 3-PGA a 3-C molecule)
What happens if a C3 plant is put in a desert environment?
The plants start closing their stomata in order to save water, this causes O2 to build up in the cell and CO2 can’t be taken in, photorespiration begins
What is a C4 plant?
Plants that have adapted their photosynthesis process (split into mesophyll and bundle sheath cells)
How did C4 plants adapt to their environment?
In carbon fixation, CO2 is fixed into a 4-C compound (OAA) instead in the mesophyll cells, OAA goes to bundle sheath cells for Calvin cycle, stomata is closed to conserve H2O but doesn’t undergo photorespiration
What environment do C4 plants live in? What are examples of C4 plants?
They live in hot and dry environments where H2O access is limited, they are still able to afford to lose some water though. Examples include corn, sugarcane, palm trees
What are CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) Plants?
Photosynthesis is adapted so the stomata is only open at night (crucial that there is no H2O loss), and Calvin cycle can occur during the day. When CO2 enters, it is also fixed to a 4-C compound. Resulting organic acids are stored in vacuoles of mesophyll cells for later use in Calvin cycle
What environment are CAM plants in? What are examples of CAM plants?
They live in very arid (very dry) environments, desert. Examples include cacti and pineapple
