Photorespiration and Aerobic Respiration | Plants

The upcoming discussion will update you about the difference between photorespiration and aerobic respiration.

Difference # Photorespiration:

1. Photorespiration occurs only in the green cells.

2. Photorespiration occurs only in the presence of light.

3. It occurs predominantly in C₃ plants.

4. Photorespiration does not involve glycolysis, Krebs cycle, etc.

5. It does not produce any usable energy in the form of ATP. There is no phosphorylation.

6. The end products are CO₂ and PGA.

7. Its operation involves chloroplasts, peroxi­somes and mitochondria.

8. It maintains the carbon economy of plants.

9. Photorespiration is not essential for the normal growth of plants.

10. In this process saturation point is attained at high oxygen concentration.

Difference # Aerobic Respiration:

1. Photorespiration occurs both in green and non-green cells.

2. Photorespiration occurs all the time irrespective of light.

3. It takes place in all the plants, except anaerobic microbes.

4. Photorespiration involves glycolysis, Krebs cycle or terminal oxidation.

5. It produces usable energy in the form of ATP. Substrate and oxidative phosphorylations take place.

6. The end products are CO₂ and H₂O.

7. Its operation involves cytoplasm, matrix and mitochondria only.

8. There is no such role.

9. Photorespiration is essential for the normal growth of plants.

10. Here saturation point is attained at comparatively lower oxygen concentration.