In Sugarcane, what is the first stable product of CO ₂ fixation and in which specific cells is it formed?

Step-by-step solution

Sugarcane is a C ₄ plant exhibiting Kranz anatomy. In C ₄ plants, the initial CO ₂ fixation occurs in the mesophyll cells where Phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP) acts as the primary acceptor in the presence of PEP carboxylase to form the 4-carbon compound Oxaloacetic acid (OAA). Thus, OAA is the first stable product and it is formed in the mesophyll cells. The Calvin cycle (where PGA is formed) occurs later in the bundle sheath cells. Students often confuse the location of initial fixation or mistake Sugarcane for a C ₃ p