Photorespiration is a respiratory process in many higher plants. This is also known as the oxidative photosynthetic, or C2 photosynthesis or carbon cycle.
- Photorespiration is a wasteful pathway that occurs when the Calvin cycle enzyme rubisco acts on oxygen rather than carbon dioxide.
- The majority of plants are C3 plants, which have no special features to combat photorespiration.
- Plants minimize photorespiration by separating initial CO2 fixation and the Calvin cycle in space, performing these steps in different cell types.
- Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants minimize photorespiration and save water by separating these steps in time, between night and day.
