Why are C4 plants preferred in the tropical region?
C4 plants use 30 ATP molecules to make one molecule of glucose, which is preferred in tropical regions. Photorespiration is the method used by these plants to avoid losing photosynthetic carbon. Instead of mixing with CO2, RuBP is catabolized to a 3-carbon atom molecule during photorespiration. Photorespiration consumes more than half of the CO2 fixed by photosynthesis. Since no energy-rich chemical is created during this phase, photorespiration acts to undo the activity of photosynthesis. Thus, C4 plants photosynthesize better than C3 plants, and the C4 pathway has an adaptation benefit in tropical regions, hence these plants are favored.
