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C4 plants are more efficient in photosynthesis than C3 plants due to

  • (a) a larger number of chloroplasts in the leaf cells Your answer
  • (b) a thin cuticle Your answer
  • (c) a lower rate of photorespiration Correct
  • (d) a higher leaf area Your answer
Your answer: Correct answer: (c)
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Explanation

Why (c) is correct

C4 plants are more efficient mainly because they show little or no photorespiration: CO2 is concentrated around RuBisCO in the bundle sheath, so its oxygenase activity is suppressed.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (a) · your answer The extra efficiency comes from avoiding photorespiration, not from having more chloroplasts.
  • (b) · your answer Cuticle thickness affects water loss, not photosynthetic efficiency.
  • (d) · your answer Leaf area is not what makes the C4 pathway more efficient.
NCERT point: C4 plants also have a higher temperature optimum and use water and nitrogen more efficiently.
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