What do plants use to deal with the wasteful effects of photorespiration?

Plants deal with the wasteful effects of photorespiration primarily by using stored energy to process oxygen and reclaim carbon. During photorespiration, the enzyme RuBisCO can react with oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, leading to the production of a byproduct that must be converted back into a usable form of carbon. This process consumes energy, which is where stored energy comes into play.

The conversion of products from photorespiration back into 3-PGA (a usable form of carbon) requires ATP and reduces the overall efficiency of photosynthesis. By utilizing stored energy, plants can effectively counteract the potential losses from photorespiration and ensure that they maintain a supply of carbon for the Calvin cycle, thus optimizing their photosynthetic efficiency despite the challenges posed by high oxygen concentrations and low carbon dioxide levels.

In contrast, increasing glucose production or carbohydrate storage might not directly address the immediate challenges of photorespiration, while increased stomatal openings could lead to water loss without necessarily mitigating the effects of oxygen interference in the photosynthetic pathway. Thus, the option focusing on using stored energy accurately reflects the process plants employ to manage the fallout of photorespiration.