[Campbell Biology P.248] According to the text, what is one beneficial role of cyclic electr... | Practice Question

According to the text, what is one beneficial role of cyclic electron flow in photosynthetic species that possess both photosystems, particularly in plants?

  • A: It produces NADPH for the Calvin cycle.
  • B: It releases oxygen as a byproduct.
  • C: It provides photoprotection under intense light conditions.
  • D: It is the sole means of ATP generation in these species.

Explanation

The text explicitly states that for photosynthetic species possessing both photosystems, like plants, cyclic electron flow plays a beneficial role, providing photoprotection, especially in intense light conditions. Plants with mutations preventing cyclic electron flow do not grow well in intense light, supporting this role.