Water Saving Adaptations For Plants

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Joshua Sparling Extra credit 10-15-09 Three water saving adaptations The three types of photosynthesis are C3, C4, and CAM. C3 photosynthesis is the typical photosynthesis that most plants use and that everyone learns about in school (it was all we knew about until a few decades ago). C4 and CAM photosynthesis are both adaptations to arid conditions because they result in better water use efficiency. In addition, CAM plants can "idle," saving precious energy and water during harsh times, and C4 plants can photosynthesize faster under the desert's high heat and light conditions than C3 plants because they use an extra biochemical pathway and special anatomy to reduce photorespiration. The C3 photosynthesis is called such because of the CO2 is first incorporated into a 3 carbon compound. In the C3 plant the stomata are open during the day, and RUBISCO, the enzyme involved in photosynthesis, is also the enzyme involved in the uptake of CO2. Photosynthesis takes place throughout the leaf through the stomata which are primary sites for gas exchange in plants. These plants are more efficient than C4 and CAM plants under cool and moist conditions and under normal light because they require fewer enzymes and no specialized anatomy, and most plants are C3. C4 plants are called such because the CO2 is first incorporated into a 4 carbon compound. In the C4 plant the stomata are still open during the day but this plant uses PEP Carboxylase for the enzyme involved in the uptake of CO2. This enzyme allows CO2 to be taken into the plant very quickly, and then it delivers it directly to RUBISCO for photosynthesis. The photosynthesis takes place in inner cells and requires special anatomy called Kranz anatomy. This plant photosynthesizes faster than C3 plants under high light intensity and high temperatures because the CO2 is delivered directly to
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