During the night, the peepal tree, like other plants, undergoes a process known as Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). This special type of photosynthesis allows the plant to take up carbon dioxide even in the absence of sunlight.
Read a related post: Why Shani is afraid of peepal tree?
CAM photosynthesis is a unique adaptation found in certain plants, including the peepal tree, that allows them to survive and thrive in arid conditions. Unlike the more common C3 and C4 pathways of photosynthesis, CAM plants separate the processes of carbon dioxide uptake and its conversion into sugars.
At night, when the stomata (small openings on the surface of leaves) of most plants close to prevent water loss, CAM plants keep their stomata open. This allows them to take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the form of an organic acid called malate. The malate is then stored in vacuoles within the plant’s cells.
During the day, the peepal tree, like other CAM plants, closes its stomata to conserve water and prevent excessive transpiration. However, since it has previously taken in carbon dioxide during the night and stored it as malate, it can continue the process of photosynthesis even without direct access to atmospheric carbon dioxide.
When sunlight becomes available, the stored malate is broken down, releasing carbon dioxide that is then used in the regular photosynthetic pathway to produce sugars. This allows the peepal tree to continue growing and functioning efficiently, even during periods of low light or water scarcity.
In summary, the peepal tree, having the capability of CAM photosynthesis, can uptake carbon dioxide at night and store it as malate, which is subsequently used during the day to produce sugars. This unique ability enables the tree to survive in challenging environments and continue its metabolic processes even when sunlight is not available.