Question

Statement I: In C₃ plants, some O₂ binds to RuBisCO, hence CO₂ fixation is decreased.

Statement II: In C₄ plants, mesophyll cells show very little photorespiration while bundle sheath cells do not show photorespiration.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Options

• Statement I is true but Statement II is false.

• Statement I is false but Statement II is true.

• Both Statement I and Statement II are true.

• Both Statement I and Statement II are false.

Answer 1

Statement I is true but Statement II is false.

Explanation:

RuBisCO can also attach to oxygen (O₂) rather than carbon dioxide (CO₂) in C₃ plants, which reduces CO₂ fixation and a process called photorespiration. Because C₄ plants lack RuBisCO in their mesophyll, photorespiration does not take place in them. Therefore, the answer is option (1).