The process which makes major difference between C3 and C4 plants is
Answer: (C) Photorespiration. NCERT explicitly identifies photorespiration as the process that creates an important difference between C3 and C4 plants: it occurs in C3 plants (where O2 binds RuBisCO) but does not occur in C4 plants because their CO2-concentrating mechanism keeps RuBisCO carboxylating.
- A.Glycolysis
- B.Calvin cycle
- C.Photorespiration✓
- D.Respiration
Correct Answer
(C) Photorespiration
Solution & Explanation
NCERT explicitly identifies photorespiration as the process that creates an important difference between C3 and C4 plants: it occurs in C3 plants (where O2 binds RuBisCO) but does not occur in C4 plants because their CO2-concentrating mechanism keeps RuBisCO carboxylating. The Calvin cycle (B) operates in both C3 and C4 plants, so it cannot be the distinguishing process. Hence the answer is photorespiration (C). NCERT: Class 11 Ch 11, p.147 [147:012–147:013]: "difference between C3 and C4 plants – Photorespiration."
