Science Club: Field Crop Ecology

Field Crop Ecology
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Cavigelli, M. A., S. R. Deming, L. K. Probyn, and R. R. Harwood. 1998. Michigan Field Crop Ecology: Managing Biological Processes for Productivity and Environmental Quality. Extension Bulletin E-2646. East Lansing: Michigan State University.
High School Level - Botany: Photosynthesis Works Differently in Beans than it does in Corn
Detailed Explanation of C3 (ex. wheat, rice, beans and 95% of other plant species) vs. C4 Plants (ex. corn)
Photosynthesis occurs in Mesophyll Cells for bean plants that use a three carbon molecule (C3) to capture carbon dioxide.
Photosynthesis occurs in Bundle Sheath Cells for corn plants that first use a four carbon molecule (C4) in the mesophyll to capture carbon dioxide. C4 plants work more efficiently on hot summer days.
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Effects of Rising Atmospheric Concentrations of Carbon Dioxide on Plants By: Daniel R. Taub (Biology Department, Southwestern University) © 2010 Nature Education Citation: Taub, D. (2010) Effects of Rising Atmospheric Concentrations of Carbon Dioxide on Plants. Nature Education Knowledge 3(10):21
Histology of C3 (Beans)  vs. C4 (Corn) Plants
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David RintoulRobert Bear, Photosynthetic Pathways. OpenStax CNX. Apr 16, http://cnx.org/contents/d0b6df3d-22b7-411f-8f28-5eeed0e1c82d@8. Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/d0b6df3d-22b7-411f-8f28-5eeed0e1c82d@8.
College Level - Biochemistry: The "C4" molecule in C4 Plants is called Oxaloacetate
The four carbon molecule in C4 Plants is called "oxaloacetate".  The oxaloacetate helps corn operate differently at the molecular level, impacting nitrogen uptake and plant growth rates.  Understanding C4 metabolism helps us increase crop yields, decrease nutrient runoff, and generate new knowledge that may lead to future scientific breakthroughs.


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Evolution of the C4 photosynthetic mechanism: are there really three C4 acid decarboxylation types?