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Rubisco is essential for fixing carbon, yet it is also the reason for the inefficiency of
photosynthesis. Maximum efficiency of photosynthesis is rated at between 10 – 30%.
The Calvin cycle occurs in all photosynthetic organisms, but different species are
adapted to use it in different ways depending on the temperature, amount of light and
precipitation.
Resource: Topic 2 Adaptations of the Calvin Cycle Written Response Analysis #1 Identify at least three examples EACH of the following groups of plants: C3, C4, and CAM. Use the website below to help you. You just have to list these three examples. No explanations are necessary here. (3 marks) C3 plant: C3 plants is an example of a Pineapple plant, Coffee plant, Tea plant. C4 plant: For C4, examples include corn, sugar cane and crabgrass. CAM plants: CAM plants are Thale cress, pineapple and cacti. Analysis #2 Select one plant from each group in #1. Explain the abiotic limiting factor affecting the plant, and describe any kind of adaptation that enable the plant to survive in its typical environment. Again, use the website below to help you with this answer. (6 marks) Plant: The C3 plants work better in moist and cool conditions. Its stomata are open during the day because they require less machinery than C4 and CAM plants. Also the C3 plants close their stomata to avoid the loss of water. Most plants are in the C3 category. Photosynthesis takes place throughout the leaf. The C3 plant is made up of three carbons; therefore they are a three­carbon compound. Sugar Cane: This C4 plant it has adapted into a warmer environment than the C3 plant. Its stomata are not required to stay open as long, because they are in the warm in environment, this way they do not lose as much water through transpiration. The C4 plant can take in CO2 faster, which results in less water loss and short stomata openings. The enzyme in the C4 plant allows CO2 to be delivered to make Rubisco immediately. It has high water efficiency, more than the C3 and CAM plant. Cacti: This CAM plant has adapted to the arid environment around itself, an arid condition would be the desert. Its adaptation is to close its stomata during the day because of high wind speeds, hot temperature and high light intensity. It will open its stomata during the night so that it can avoid these extreme conditions. Because the plant is so dry, this will help it prevent the loss of water through transpiration when the stomata open during the day. This plant can also CAM­idle. CAM­idling allows the stomata in the plant to stay closed all day and night if there are impactful conditions. The oxygen given off in photosynthesis is used for respiration and the CO2 given off in respiration is used for photosynthesis. CAM­idling allows CAM plants to survive through dry spells, and quickly recover when water is finally available. Analysis #3 Illustrate, using pathway diagrams, the essential similarities and differences in the light­independent stage of C3, C4, and CAM photosynthesis. Include an explanation of the similarities and differences in each of the C3, C4 and CAM photosynthesis. (9 marks) Use all the moodle links to help you with the picture comparing a c3 to a c4 to a CAM
plant and their physiological differences with their Calvin cycles. Differences: Some of the plant types have more steps than others to get to the Calvin Cycle. CO2 in the C3 plants have to go to a mesophyll cell first before it can actually get to or begin the Calvin Cycle. CAM plants have to create a special enzyme, which converts the CO2 into C4, and then back to CO2, then it can start the Calvin cycle. The CAM plants start in the night and then periodically change into day. Similarities: They all make glucose. They all create Rubisco eventually. The C4 and C3 plants Calvin cycles are carried out during the day. C4 and CAM plants both create the PEP carboxylase enzyme to carry out the process of the Calvin cycle. C4 plants have the mesophyll cell and the bundle sheath cell for the CO2 to go to before it makes its way into the Calvin cycle. Callie Morris, Total Mark: /18