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A student found an unusual plant species growing in the local park - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 2 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 2
A student found an unusual plant species growing in the local park. Without knowing what type of plants they were, the student undertook experiments to identify the ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A student found an unusual plant species growing in the local park - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 2 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
a. To which plant group (C3, C4 or CAM) would this unusual plant species most likely belong? Justify your answer.
Answer
The most likely type of plant is C4 as it exhibits high starch formation at 40 °C and high humidity. C4 plants are adapted to high temperature and can maintain efficient photosynthesis under such conditions, leading to greater starch production.
Step 2
b. Why does exposing the plants to green or blue light as opposed to white light affect the formation of starch? Justify your answer.
Answer
White light consists of a spectrum of colors, including green and blue wavelengths. Green light is mostly reflected and not absorbed by plants, while blue light is absorbed effectively. Since blue light is important for photosynthesis, it leads to higher production of glucose, which is subsequently converted into starch. Therefore, exposing plants to blue light can enhance starch formation compared to green light.