DIFFERENCE BETWEEN C3 AND C4 PHOTOSYNTHESIS

REPORT
GROUP 15
NAME SEMESTER SUBMIT TO : MUHAMMAD RASHIDI BIN MD YUSOF(2011495944) : 3/ MARCH-JULY 2012 (AT2203A2) : MADAM RAJA NUR ATEEKA BT RAJA OTHMAN

INTRODUCTION
Photosynthesis occurs through three different processes. C3 process, C4 process and CAM process. C3 is called C3 because the first product of photosynthesis is a 3-carbon molecule. While , C4 is called C4 because the first initial photosynthesis product is a 4-carbon compound. Both happen cause by the amount of carbon dioxide and condition in the atmospheres. Both come up with different stages and step during the process. The different will be discuss more on the content.

CONTENT

C3 Photosynthesis:
Called C3 because the first product of photosynthesis is a 3-carbon molecule. Most plants are C3,usually on dicotyledon such as trees plant .C3 photosynthesis is a multistep process in which the carbon from CO2 is fixed into stable organic products, it occurs in virtually all leaf mesophyll cells. In the first step of the cycle CO2 reacts with RuBP to produce two 3-carbon molecule of 3-phosphogylyceric acid. This is the origin of the designation C3 in the cycle and for the plant that use this cycle. The entire process, from light energy capture to glucose production occurs within the chloroplast which uses tylakoid membranes for the transport. It is more efficient than C4 plants under cool and moist conditions and under normal light because fewer enzymes and no specialized anatomy.

C4 Photosynthesis:
Called C4 because the first initial photosynthesis product is a 4-carbon compound. C4 photosynthesis occurs in the more advanced plant taxa and is especially common among monocots, such as grasses and sedges. C4 photosynthesis represents a biochemical and morphological modification of C3 photosynthesis to reduce Rubisco oxygenase activity and thereby increase photosynthetic rate in low CO2 environments. Photosynthesis takes place in inner cells which is the bundle sheath cells. Carbon dioxide entering the mesophyll cells is bound into PEP by PEP Carboxylase to produce Malate. Malate is diffuses into the bundle sheath cells, and Carbon dioxide is release in these cell for C3 photosynthesis use. The remain is reconverted back into PEP and diffused back to the mesophyll cells. The C4 Photosynthesis is efficient than C3 plants under high light intensity and high temperatures because the CO2 concentration is high, not allowing it to grab oxygen and undergo photorespiration. This is due to the chemical pump mechanisms during the process. Moreover, C4 has better water use efficiency because PEP Carboxylase brings in CO2 faster and so does not need to keep stomata open as much (less water lost by transpiration) for the same amount of CO2 gain for photosynthesis.

CONCLUSION:
In C3 plants the photosynthesis, carbon fixation and Calvin cycle all occur in a single chloroplast. In C4 plants the photosynthesis takes place in a chloroplast of a thin-walled mesophyll cell and a 4carbon acid is handed off to a thick-walled bundle sheath cell where the Calvin cycle occurs in a chloroplast of that second cell. This protects the Calvin cycle from the effects of photorespiration.

REFERENCES : Physiology And Behaviour Of Plant,Peter Scout, John Wiley and Sons LTD,2008.
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Plant Anotomy 3 Edition, A. Fahn, 1982.