What is the significance of the C4 pathway being called a 'CO2 pump'?

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Appears in NEET UG
Solution ✔ Verified
  • AIt actively transports CO2 out of the plant to reduce toxicity.
  • BIt increases the concentration of CO2 at the site of RuBisCO in bundle sheath cells.
  • CIt facilitates the diffusion of CO2 directly into the Calvin cycle.
  • DIt recycles CO2 produced during cellular respiration back into photosynthesis.
Explanation

The C4 pathway acts as a 'CO2 pump' by initially fixing CO2 in mesophyll cells and then transporting and releasing it at a high concentration in the bundle sheath cells, thereby increasing the CO2 concentration at the RuBisCO site.

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