Need for C4 Pathway
- The C4 pathway is intended to effectively fix CO2 at low concentrations and the plants that utilize this pathway are known as C4 plants. These plants connect Carbon dioxide into a four-carbon compound (C4) known as oxaloacetate. This happens in cells that are known to be mesophyll cells.
- The initial advantage is that the system doesn’t go through photorespiration, an interaction that opposes photosynthesis. The subsequent one is that plants allow their ores to close for longer periods, accordingly staying away from water loss.
C4 Plants
C4 plants are those that use the C4 pathway for photosynthesis. Usually, they are monocots. They are only found in angiosperms. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is initially integrated into a 4-carbon compound that’s the reason why it is called C4. Photosynthesis takes place both in bundle sheath cells and mesophyll cells. The carbon dioxide acceptor is PEP carboxylase. The compound which is stable and initially formed is oxaloacetic acid, a four-carbon compound. Photorespiration does not occur.