NEET2026BiologyChapterActual
Assertion : Photorespiration is considered a wasteful process in C₃ plants. Reason : During photorespiration, the oxygenase activity of RuBisCO leads to the formation of two molecules of 3-phosphoglyceric acid (PGA).
Options
- ABoth Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
- BBoth Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
- CAssertion is true but Reason is false.
- DBoth Assertion and Reason are false.
Correct answer
C. Assertion is true but Reason is false.
Step-by-step solution
Assertion is true because photorespiration does not produce ATP or sugars, but instead consumes ATP and releases CO₂ , making it a wasteful process in C₃ plants. Reason is false because during photorespiration, the oxygenase activity of RuBisCO binds with O₂ and converts RuBP into one molecule of 3-phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) and one molecule of phosphoglycolate. The formation of two molecules of PGA occurs during the normal Calvin cycle (carboxylation), not during photorespiration. Therefore, Assertion is true but