Structure of C4 Plants
The structure of C4 plants shows a distinctive Kranz Anatomy that includes:
- Mesophyll cells are uniform and arranged in concentric layers around the vascular bundles.
- Chloroplasts in mesophyll cells are fewer and do not contain starch. They possess the enzyme structure necessary for C4 photosynthesis.
- Chloroplasts in bundle sheath cells store starch and are larger. They have the enzyme structure required for C3 photosynthesis.
- Mesophyll cells and bundle sheath cells are connected through plasmodesmata, facilitating communication and exchange of materials between them.
Kranz Anatomy – An Overview
Kranz Anatomy is a distinctive arrangement found in C4 plants, characterized by mesophyll cells forming a ring around the bundle-sheath cells. Kranz Anatomy is found in angiosperms like sugarcane and grasses which undergo C4 photosynthesis. Plants growing in warm tropical or arid environments have developed this efficient photosynthetic pathway. Let us discuss Kranz’s anatomy in detail.
Table of Content
- What is Kranz Anatomy?
- Kranz Anatomy in C4 plants
- Kranz Anatomy Diagram
- Structure of C4 Plants
- Function of Kranz Anatomy
- Advantages of Kranz Anatomy
- Development of Kranz Anatomy
- Characteristic features of Kranz Anatomy
- What is the Difference Between C3 and C4 plants?
- Difference between Mesophyll Cells and Bundle Sheath Cells