Photosynthesis Dark Reactions: C3, C4 & CAM Pathways | CSIR NET Plant Physiology (Part 3)

Added:

Dark Reactions Intro
Calvin Cycle Stages
Carbon Fixation
Reduction Phase
Energy Requirements
Photorespiration Issue
C2 Cycle Process
C4 Pathway Mechanism
CAM Pathway Strategy

Dark Reactions Intro

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    Dark reactions convert carbon into glucose using ATP and NADPH from light reactions.

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    These reactions are light-independent and also called carbon fixation or assimilation.

Chloroplast anatomy, specifically distinguishing between the thylakoid membrane (site of light reactions) and the stroma (site of dark reactions).
The light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, including how ATP and NADPH are generated as energy carriers.
Basic biochemical concepts of enzyme action, catalytic efficiency, and competitive inhibition (essential for understanding Rubisco's dual activity).
Fundamental principles of carbon chemistry and metabolic pathways, such as phosphorylation and redox reactions.
The photorespiratory pathway (C2 cycle), focusing on how plants salvage carbon lost due to Rubisco's oxygenase activity.
Regulatory mechanisms of the Calvin-Benson cycle, such as light-activation of enzymes via the ferredoxin-thioredoxin system.
Ecological and evolutionary adaptations of C3, C4, and CAM plants to varying global temperatures, water availability, and CO2 concentrations.
Starch and sucrose synthesis pathways, detailing how the primary products of carbon fixation (triose phosphates) are utilized by the plant.
Agricultural biotechnology applications, such as genetic engineering efforts to introduce C4 traits into C3 crops (e.g., C4 rice) to enhance yield.
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The Calvin cycle (dark reactions) converts carbon dioxide into glucose using ATP and NADPH from light reactions, occurring in the chloroplast stroma with rubisco as the key enzyme. To produce one glucose molecule, the cycle requires 6 CO2, 18 ATP, and 12 NADPH. Photorespiration occurs when rubisco fixes oxygen instead of CO2 under high temperatures, producing a 2-carbon compound (phosphoglycolate) that must be recycled through chloroplast, peroxisome, and mitochondria, consuming additional energy. C4 plants avoid photorespiration through Kranz anatomy and PEP carboxylase, while CAM plants use temporal separation by opening stomata at night.