leaf anatomy and a unique biochemical pathway enable the plant to thrive in and conditions. Thus C4 plants lessen photorespiration by carrying out photosynthesis only in cells that are insulated from high levels of CO2. They also possess a novel mechanism for carbon fixation.
大部分植物是碳3植物,在高温干旱条件下,由于光呼吸作用而使碳水化合物的合成降低。而在大多数的碳4植物中,由于叶脉的特殊构造和独特的化学路径使植物依然很茂盛。这是碳固定的一个新机制。