Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

Question:

Anatomy of C4 plant leaf shows :

Options:

Absence of bundle sheath cells

Absence of mitochondria

Presence of bundle sheath cells

None of these

Correct Answer:

Presence of bundle sheath cells

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (3)-Presence of bundle sheath cells

Plants that are adapted to dry tropical regions have the C4 pathway mentioned earlier. Though these plants have the C4 oxaloacetic acid as the first CO2 fixation product they use the C3 pathway or the Calvin cycle as the main biosynthetic pathway. 

C4 plants are special: They have a special type of leaf anatomy, they tolerate higher temperatures, they show a response to high light intensities, they lack a process called photorespiration and have greater productivity of biomass.

The particularly large cells around the vascular bundles of the C4 plants are called bundle sheath cells, and the leaves which have such anatomy are said to have ‘Kranz’ anatomy.

‘Kranz’ means ‘wreath’ and is a reflection of the arrangement of cells. The bundle sheath cells may form several layers around the vascular bundles; they are characterised by having a large number of chloroplasts, thick walls impervious to gaseous exchange and no intercellular spaces. You may like to cut a section of the leaves of C4 plants – maize or sorghum – to observe the Kranz anatomy and the distribution of mesophyll cells.