Week 14 L7: C3 and C4 Photosynthesis Flashcards
What is the photosynthesis reaction?
6CO2 + 6H2O –> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Where do the light dependent reaction occur?
thylakoids
Where does the light independent reaction occur?
stroma
What is RuBisCo?
enzyme in the calvin cycle responsible for fixing CO2.
Binds CO2 and converts it to 2 molecules of 3-phospho-glycerate.
Why is RubisCo bad?
Cant differentiate between O2 and CO2
When does RuBiso become even less efficient due to climate change?
elevated temps, its affinity for O2 becomes even higher. (Carboxylase decrease vs oxygenase increase, CO2 solubility decreases.)
reduced pp CO2 vs O2.
not adapt well to climate change.
What does the plant produce when guard cells close?
increase O2
more futile Rubico reactions
lose energy even though they are photosynthesising
photorespiration reaction.
What happens in hot environments to C3 plants?
Water available but limited
Transpiration or water loss rates high
RuBisCo inefficient at high temps
Photorespiration increases
What happens in arid/dry environments to C3 plants?
Low water potential and/or availability
Shut stomata
Reduce water loss
But CO2 falls and O2 increases
What C3 plants can grow in dry enviroments?
cacti
pineapple
epiphytic orchids
rice wheat potato
What plants can grow in dry environments?
cacti
pineapple
epiphytic orchids
How did evolution mitigate photorespiration?
CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM)
-help promote carboxylase activity
O2 exclusion or insensitivity - cant be poisoned, no futile reaction.
Adaptations present in C4 and CAM photosynthesis
Why did rubusco have oxygenase activity?
As CO2 levels were high billions of years ago andthere were no consequences to it oxygenase ability.
Why did C4 and CAM arise?
Increasing O2 levels.
Historical climate change
Falling CO2 levels
Increasing O2 levels
What is CAM?
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM)
survival adaptationgather sunlight during the day and fix carbon dioxide molecules at night.
When does CAM occur?
Take up CO2 during low temps (night)
Need to store CO2 until light is available (day)
Good for arid or low water availability areas
What plants use CAM?
vanilla
cacti
What limits CAM?
The size of its CO2 battery
When is CAM useful?
Really an adaptation to surviving drought rather than biomass accumulation
Why do not many crops use CAM?
Vacuole acidity unpalatable
Other adaptations make them less appealing
How can CAM be useful?
Open up new areas for farming?
Introduce facultative CAM to existing crops to improve drought survival.
How can CAM be useful?
Open up new areas for farming?
Introduce facultative CAM to existing crops to improve drought survival.