Given below are two statements: Statement I: C₄ plants lack photorespiration because they possess a mechanism that increases the intracellular concentration of CO₂ at the RuBisCO enzyme site. Statement II: The breakdown of C₄ acids in the mesophyll cells releases CO₂ , ensuring that RuBisCO functions primarily as a carboxylase. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given bel

Step-by-step solution

Statement I is correct because C₄ plants have a specialized mechanism to concentrate CO₂ at the site of the RuBisCO enzyme, which minimizes its oxygenase activity and thereby prevents photorespiration. Statement II is incorrect because the breakdown (decarboxylation) of C₄ acids to release CO₂ occurs in the bundle sheath cells, not in the mesophyll cells. In mesophyll cells, CO₂ is initially fixed into C₄ acids, which are then transported to the bundle sheath cells. Answer: Statement I is correct but Statement II i