Class 11 · Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

RuBisCO and C3/C4 Plant Pathways—NEET Biology

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Thus, the basic pathway that results in the formation of the sugars, the Calvin pathway, is common to the C₃ and C₄ plants.

NCERT Biology · Class 11 · Chapter 11 · Paragraph 68
How NTA Uses This Concept

NTA focuses on how RuBisCO (Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase) is present in both C₃ and C₄ plants because both use the Calvin pathway for sugar formation. The key trap is assuming C₄ plants lack RuBisCO or have a completely different enzyme for CO₂ fixation—they don't. C₄ plants use PEPcase for initial CO₂ fixation in mesophyll cells, but RuBisCO still catalyzes the Calvin cycle in bundle sheath cells. Remember: PEPcase vs. RuBisCO distinguishes C₃ and C₄ plants' *first* CO₂ fixation step, but the Calvin pathway with RuBisCO is universal to both. This distinction is crucial for photosynthesis pathway questions.

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QuestionNEET 2026 (cancelled)

The enzyme required for carboxylation in the Calvin cycle is

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