Shade plants have low

Options

A. Photosynthetic activity
B. Respiratory rate
C. Metabolic activity
D. All the above.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Shade Plants**: Shade plants, also known as sciophytes, are plants that thrive in low light conditions. They are adapted to grow in environments where sunlight is limited.

2. **Identifying Characteristics**: Shade plants have specific characteristics that differentiate them from sun plants (plants that thrive in high light conditions). These characteristics include:
- Lower compensation points (the light intensity at which photosynthesis equals respiration).
- Thinner leaves that allow for more efficient light absorption.

3. **Analyzing the Options**:
- **Photosynthetic Activity**: Shade plants have adapted to perform photosynthesis efficiently in low light, but this does not mean their photosynthetic activity is low; it can be relatively high for the light conditions they are in.
- **Respiratory Rate**: Shade plants generally have a lower respiratory rate compared to sun plants, as they require less energy in low light conditions.
- **Metabolic Activity**: While shade plants can have a high metabolic rate due to efficient light absorption, their overall metabolic activity can be lower than that of sun plants due to the limited energy available from low light.

4. **Conclusion**: Among the given options, the most accurate statement is that shade plants have a low respiratory rate. Therefore, the correct answer is option 2: respiratory rate.

**Final Answer**: Shade plants have low respiratory rate.

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