Which of the following takes up carbon dioxide at night and prepares an intermediate which is acted upon by the energy absorbed by the chlorophyll during the day?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Desert plants.
Explanation:

• ​Desert plants, such as cacti, use the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) pathway to conserve water in arid environments.
  
• They take up carbon dioxide at night and convert it into an intermediate compound (malic acid), which is stored in vacuoles.
  
•  During the day, when stomata are closed to prevent water loss, the stored intermediate is used in photosynthesis by utilizing energy absorbed by chlorophyll.
  
• Bacteria, blue-green algae, and fungi do not exhibit this specialized adaptation.

Information Booster

• CAM Pathway: A water-efficient photosynthetic process in plants adapted to hot and dry conditions.
  
• Examples of CAM Plants: Cactus, pineapple, agave, and jade plant.
  
• Stomatal Behavior: Stomata open at night (for CO₂ uptake) and remain closed during the day (to reduce water loss).
  
• Photosynthesis in CAM Plants: Light-dependent reactions occur during the day, while carbon fixation happens at night.