Given below are two statements :

Statement I:

The primary CO₂ acceptor in C₄ plants is phosphoenolpyruvate and is found in the mesophyll cells.

Statement II:

Mesophyll cells of C₄ plants lack RuBisCo enzyme.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Concept: Plants that are adapted to dry tropical regions have the C₄ pathway.  C4 plants have a special type of leaf anatomy, they tolerate higher temperatures, they show a response to high light intensities, they lack a process called photorespiration, and have greater productivity of biomass. 

Explanation:  Plants in tropical desert regions commonly follow the C₄ pathway. Here, a 4-carbon compound called oxaloacetic acid (OAA) is the first product of carbon fixation. Such plants have certain adaptations as well.

Statement I:  The primary CO₂ acceptor is a 3-carbon molecule, phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP), and is present in the mesophyll cells. The enzyme responsible for this fixation is PEP carboxylase or PEPcase. This statement is correct.

Statement II:  Mesophyll cells of C₄ plants lack the RuBisCO enzyme.  The C₄ acid OAA is formed in the mesophyll cells. This statement is correct. 

So, option 2 is correct.