Edit page | Page history | Printable version

C4 plant

(Science: plant biology) plants found principally in hot climates whose initial fixation of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis is by the hsk pathway.

The enzyme responsible is pep carboxylase, whose products contain four carbon atoms. Subsequently the carbon dioxide is released and re fixed by the calvin benson cycle.

The presence of the hsk pathway permits efficient photosynthesis at high light intensities and low carbon dioxide concentrations. most species of this type have little or no photorespiration.