In C4 plants with Kranz anatomy, the mesophyll is undifferentiated and its cells occur in concentric layers around vascular bundles. The vascular bundles are surrounded by several layers of specialized large sized cells called bundle sheath cells. The C4 cycle involves two carboxylation reactions, one taking place in chloroplasts of mesophyll cells and another in chloroplasts of bundle sheath cells. In C4 plants, the first step of carbon dioxide fixation takes place in the chloroplasts of mesophyll cells containing PEP, while bundle sheath cells contain RuBisCO. Related Theory The C4 plants consume more energy (i.e., two additional molecules of ATP) during the fixation of carbon dioxide. The mesophyll cells of the C4 plants are closely packed which provide smaller area for better utilization of the available water. This also reduces the intensity of solar radiations. This makes the C4 plants better adapted to the conditions of tropical climate. They do not show photorespiration. Thus, their photosynthetic rate is quite high. Caution Bundle sheath cells are absent in C3 plants.
Bundle sheath cells:
NEET UG 2013 — Botany Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
Bundle sheath cells:
Held on 30 Apr 2013 · Verified 9 Jul 2026.
Options
- A
are rich in PEP carboxylase
- B
lack RuBisCo
- C
lack both RuBisCO and PEP carboxylase
- D
are rich in RuBisCO.
Did you get this right?
Sign in to track your attempts and accuracy.
Your note
Sign in to keep a private note on this question. Nothing you write is ever public.
NEET UG Photosynthesis in Higher Plants in other years
More NEET UG Photosynthesis in Higher Plants questions
Match List I with List II: $\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|}\hline & \text{List - I} & & \text{List - II} \\\hline \text{A}. & \text{Chlorophyll a} & \text{(i)} & \text{Yellow-green} \\\hline \text{B.} & \text{Chlorophyll b} & \text{(ii)} & \text{Yellow} \\\hline \text{C.} & \text{Xanthophylls} & \text{(iii)} & \text{Blue-green} \\\hline \text{D.} & \text{Carotenoids} & \text{(iv)} & \text{Yellow to Yellow-orange} \\\hline\end{array}$ Choose the option with all correct matches.
Which of the following statements about RuBisCO is true?
Observe the given figure. Identify the different stages labelled with alphabets by selecting the correct option. 
How many molecules of ATP and NADPH are required for every molecule of $\mathrm{CO}_2$ fixed in the Calvin cycle?
Given below are two statements: Statement I: In $\mathrm{C}_3$ plants, some $\mathrm{O}_2$ binds to RuBisCO, hence $\mathrm{CO}_2$ fixation is decreased. Statement II: In $\mathrm{C}_4$ plants, mesophyll cells show very little photorespiration while bundle sheath cells do not show photorespiration. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Other Botany topics for NEET UG
Keep practicing Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
Work through every NEET UG Photosynthesis in Higher Plants PYQ, year by year.