Do you think the way Zea mays responded to light (or didn’t respond to light) benefits the plant? How might the ability to change phenotype or genotype generally benefits plants?

A- a reduction in biodiversity

Mitochondria produce atp, a high energy compound. atp is used for all sorts of enzyme-mediated reactions, such as making proteins/nucleotides/etc, certain compounds cross the cell membrane, muscles move, etc.  without this source of energy, a cell will die. it will not be able to repair itself, defend against pathogens, etc.

Yes, take risk in life