Plants exhibiting CAM photosynthesis often live in dry hot e

Plants exhibiting CAM photosynthesis often live in dry, hot environments. Explain the anatomical and cellular differences associated with CAM photosynthesis exhibited by such plants.

Solution

the plants that exhibit CAM photosynthesis are different from the C3 and C4 plants, they use the CAM crassulacean acid metabollism pathway to minimize photorespiration. photorespiration is a wasteful process in which less carbon is fixed.

the CAM plants do not fix CO using a separate light dependent reaction and calvin cyle, they directly separate it in time and saturate their leaves with CO2 by allowing their stomata to open at night and diffuse in the leaves, this co2 is then fixed and converted to malate or any organic acid. this organic acid is stored inside their leaves till the next day therefore the plants do not need to open their stomata during the day and can still do photosynthesis. because of this even the rubisco is saturated with CO2.

the CAM plants are also effective at mininmizing water loss because since they open their stomata at night when the temperatures are lower and humidity high, therefore their water loss is minimum and that is why they can survive in hot and arid temperatures like in deserts.