Photosynthesis in Higher Plants — BIOLOGY STD 11 Science — Question

In C₃ plants some O₂ does bind to RuBisCO, and hence CO₂, fixation is decreased. Here the RuBP instead of being converted to 2 molecules of PGA binds with O₂ to form one molecule and phosphoglycolate in a pathway called photorespiration. In the photorespiratory pathway, there is neither synthesis of sugars, nor of ATP. Rather it results in the release of CO₂ with the utilisation of ATP. In the photorespiratory pathway there is no synthesis of ATP or NADPH. Therefore, photorespiration is a wasteful process.