NCERT Solution for Class 11 Biology

Chapter 13 Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

Exercise Questions Page number – 224-225

1. By looking at a plant externally can you tell whether a plant is C3 or C4 ? Why and how?

Solution:

Though plants which are adapted to dry tropical climate have the C4 pathway, they do not show any external
morphologic characteristics. Hence it is not possible to say whether the plant is C3 and C4 by looking at its
external appearance.

2. By looking at which internal structure of a plant can you tell whether a plant is C3 or C4 ? Explain.

Solution:

Leaves of C4 plants have kranz anatomy which makes them different than C3 plants. C4 plants also have
specialised cells called a bundle sheath cell which surround the vascular bundles. Every cell of the bundle sheath
has chloroplasts. The mesophyll cells of leaves do not differentiate into the spongy and palisade parenchyma
possessing less intercellular spaces while there is normal occurrence of chloroplasts in the mesophyll cells. But in
C3 plants, the bundle shealth does not exhibit chloroplast and the mesophyll cells of the leaves are differentiated
into the spongy and palisade parenchyma. Hence by examining the internal structure we can tell whether the plant
is C3 or C4.

3. Even though a very few cells in a C4 plant carry out the biosynthetic – Calvin pathway, yet they are
highly productive. Can you discuss why?

Solution:

Plant productivity can be estimated by the rate at which photosynthesis takes place. The amount of carbon dioxide
in a plant is directly proportional to the rate of photosynthesis. In C4 plants, very few of the cells carry out the
biosynthetic pathway yet they are highly productive for the following reasons.

 They have a mechanism that increases the CO2 concentration at the site of enzyme.

 Mesophyll cells are broken down in the bundle sheath cells that results in CO2 release which inturn
increases the intracellular CO2 concentration .

 Rubisco functions as a carboxylase minimizing the oxygenase activity.

 Increase in photosynthesis make C4 plants more productive.

4. RuBisCO is an enzyme that acts both as a carboxylase and oxygenase. Why do you think RuBisCO
carries out more carboxylation in C4 plants?

Solution:

The affinity of RUBISCO is much higher than its affinity for Oxygen. It is the concentration of Oxygen and CO 2
 NCERT Solution for Class 11 Biology
Chapter 13 Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

that determines the binding of the enzyme. Mesophyll cells of C4 plants lack this enzyme but are found in the
bundle sheath cells that girdle the vascular bundles where the Calvin cycle occurs.

RuBisco functions as oxygenase when the concentration of Oxygen is higher and it acts as carboxylase when the
concentration of CO2 is high. In the mesophyll cells, the primary carbon dioxide acceptor is a three carbon
compound – phosphoenol pyruvate which is converted into a four-carbon compound, oxaloacetic acid or OAA.
This is converted further into malic acid which is transported to the bundle-sheath cells where it undergoes
decarboxylation and carbon fixation takes place through the Calvin cycle which prevents RuBisCo to serve as an
oxygenase.

5. Suppose there were plants that had a high concentration of Chlorophyll b, but lacked chlorophyll a,
would it carry out photosynthesis? Then why do plants have chlorophyll b and other accessory pigments?

Solution:
In the absence of chlorophyll-a photosynthesis will not take place because chlorophyll-a is a reaction centre
responsible for the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy. Although chlorophyll is the primary pigment
that traps sunlight but accessory pigments like chlorophyll-b, xanthophylls and carotenoids also absorb sunlight
and transfer energy to chlorophyll-a.

6. Why is the colour of a leaf kept in the dark frequently yellow, or pale green? Which pigment do you
think is more stable?

Solution:

Chlorophyll fails to absorb the energy in the absence of light; hence it loses stability to give the leaf yellow
colouration. This proves that carotenoids which imparts yellow color is more stable.

7. Look at leaves of the same plant on the shady side and compare it with the leaves on the sunny side. Or,
compare the potted plants kept in the sunlight with those in the shade. Which of them has leaves that are
darker green ? Why?

Solution:

Leaves in the shade get less sunlight to carry out photosynthesis than the plants kept in sunlight. In leaves that get
less sunlight, more chlorophyll is present to carry out photosynthesis efficiently. In the presence of strong light,
the orientation of the chloroplasts in the mesophyll cells is irregular and in vertical files along the walls. Also, in
bright light, photooxidation of chloroplasts takes place while non-oxidation takes place in shaded regions. Hence
the plants kept in shade have dark green leaves due to high concentration of chlorophyll.

8. Figure shows the effect of light on the rate of photosynthesis. Based on the graph, answer the following
questions:
(a) At which point/s (A, B or C) in the curve is light a limiting factor?
(b) What could be the limiting factor/s in region A?
(c) What do C and D represent on the curve?
 NCERT Solution for Class 11 Biology
Chapter 13 Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

Solution:

a) Light is a limiting factor at A and 50% of B which is due to the increase in the photosynthetic rate with increase in
the intensity of light

b) Light, CO2 and H2O could be the limiting factor/s in region A.

c) C indicates a stage beyond which light is not a limiting factor and D is the line beyond which the intensity of
light does not affect the photosynthetic rate.

9. Give a comparison between the following:

(a) C3 and C4 pathways
(b) Cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation
(c) Anatomy of leaf in C3 and C4 plants

Solution:

a) C3 and C4 pathways

C3 Pathway C4 Pathway
RUBP is the primary acceptor of CO2 PEP is the primary acceptor of CO2
3- Phosphoglycerate is the first stable product Oxalo-acetic acid is the first stable product
Occurs in mesophyll cell of the leaves Occurs in mesophyll cells and bundle sheath
Process of Carbon fixation is slower Process of Carbon fixation is faster

b) Cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation

Cyclic photophosphorylation Non-cyclic photophosphorylation
Occurs only in photosystem-I Occurs both in Photosystem-I and II
ATP is produced ATP and NADPH2 are produced
Photolysis of water does not occur hence Oxygen is not Phtolysis of water occurs hence Oxygen is produced
produced
Electrons move in a closed circle Electrons do not move in a closed circle
 NCERT Solution for Class 11 Biology
Chapter 13 Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

c) Anatomy of leaf in C3 and C4 plants

Anatomy of leaf in C3 Anatomy of leaf in C4

Do not possess Kranz anatomy. They have Kranz anatomy
Chloroplasts are not dimorphic Chloroplasts are dimorphic, organized centripetally.
Size of bundle sheaths are larger
Mesophyll cells possess intercellular space. Mesophyll cells do not possess intercellular space.