Looking for classes? Ksquare Career Institute, Bengaluru →
CAM helps the plants in
A
Reproduction
B
Conserving water
C
Secondary growth
D
Disease resistance
Detailed Solution
CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) is found in succulent plants of dry habitats, such as $Opuntia$, $Bryophyllum$ and pineapple.
These plants open their stomata at night, when it is cool, and fix $CO_2$ into organic acids (malic acid) that are stored in the vacuoles.
During the day the stomata remain closed; the stored acid is decarboxylated and the released $CO_2$ is fixed by the Calvin cycle.
Keeping the stomata closed during the hot day greatly reduces loss of water by transpiration.
Hence CAM helps the plants in conserving water.
These plants open their stomata at night, when it is cool, and fix $CO_2$ into organic acids (malic acid) that are stored in the vacuoles.
During the day the stomata remain closed; the stored acid is decarboxylated and the released $CO_2$ is fixed by the Calvin cycle.
Keeping the stomata closed during the hot day greatly reduces loss of water by transpiration.
Hence CAM helps the plants in conserving water.
