Read the following statements regarding the C ₄ pathway: A. The primary CO ₂ acceptor is a 3-carbon molecule phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP) and is present in the mesophyll cells. B. The mesophyll cells of C ₄ plants lack the RuBisCO enzyme. C. The initial CO ₂ fixation to form a 4-carbon acid occurs in the bundle sheath cells. D. The Calvin pathway takes place in the mesophyll cells of C ₄ plants. How many of the above s

Step-by-step solution

Statement A is correct: In C ₄ plants, the primary CO ₂ acceptor is phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP), which is found in the mesophyll cells. Statement B is correct: The mesophyll cells of C ₄ plants contain PEPcase but lack the RuBisCO enzyme. Statement C is incorrect: The initial CO ₂ fixation by PEPcase to form the 4-carbon acid (OAA) occurs in the mesophyll cells, not the bundle sheath cells. Statement D is incorrect: The Calvin pathway ( C ₃ pathway) takes place in the bundle sheath cells of C ₄ plants, where RuBisCO