Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

General Test

Chapter

General Knowledge

Question:

Plants grown at which of the following places take up carbon dioxide during the night?

Options:

Deserts

Hilly terrains

Roof tops

Ocean beds

Correct Answer:

Deserts

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (1) - Deserts

Plants that take in carbon dioxide at night are most likely found in Deserts.

  • Desert plants often have a special photosynthetic pathway called crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). This adaptation allows them to close their stomata (tiny pores on the leaves) during the hot daytime hours to minimize water loss. Since stomata are the pathway for gas exchange, they also close off the intake of carbon dioxide during the day.
  • CAM plants compensate for this by opening their stomata at night, when temperatures are cooler and there's less risk of water loss. They take in carbon dioxide at night and store it as organic acids. Then, during the day, they use these stored organic acids to fuel photosynthesis.

Plants grown in hilly terrains, on rooftops, or on ocean beds wouldn't necessarily have this specific adaptation. They might take in carbon dioxide during the day following the regular C3 or C4 photosynthetic pathways, depending on the plant species.