Even though plants cells photosynthesize, they still use their mitochondria for oxidation of pyruvate. This will occur in _____. Even though plants cells photosynthesize, they still use their mitochondria for oxidation of pyruvate. This will occur in _____. photosynthetic cells in the light, while photosynthesis occurs concurrently cells that are storing glucose only nonphotosynthesizing cells only photosynthesizing cells in the light and in other tissues in the dark all cells all the time.