Botany B.Sc. III Semester V (2020-21)
Semester – V
Biochemistry, Plant Physiology-I, Plant Ecology-I& Instrumentation and Phytochemistry
(60 Hours)
Unit I : Biochemistry (10)
1.1 Carbohydrates: Definition, properties & role; Classification: Aldoses & ketoses; monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides;
1.2 Lipids: Definition, properties & role; fatty acids, oils & waxes.
1.3 Aminoacids- Chemistry of amino acids present in proteins (Classification),
1.4 Basics of Enzymology: Nomenclature & Characteristics of Enzymes, factors affecting enzyme activity, Holoenzyme, Apoenzyme, Co-enzymes & Co-factors, Theories for Mechanism of action of Enzymes
Unit II: Plant-water relations (10)
2.1 Properties of water; Diffusion, Osmosis Imbibitions & Plasmolysis : significance
2.2 Water conduction: Root pressure theory, Cohesion-adhesion theory; Transpiration
2.3 Phloem transport: Munch hypothesis
2.4 Mineral transport: passive (Donnan’s equilibrium), active(carrier concept)
Unit III: Metabolism (10)
3.1 Photosynthesis: Concept, significance, photolysis of water (Hill’s reaction), cyclic and noncyclic photophosphorylation, Light independent reactions: C3, C4 and CAM pathways and their significance; factors affecting photosynthesis.
3.2 Respiration: Types (aerobic & anaerobic), glycolysis, Kreb’s cycle, oxidative phosphorylation (ETS); fermentation (alcohol & lactic acid), photorespiration. Glyoxylate cycle
3.3 Nitrogen metabolism: Mechanism of biological nitrogen fixation, importance of nitrate reductase
Unit IV: Ecology and Environment: (10)
4.1 Climatic Factors: Light & Temperature (effect on vegetation).
4.2 Edaphic Factor: Pedogenesis, Soil profile, Soil properties (physical and chemical)
4.3 Biotic Factor: Interactions between a) plants, animals & human, b) plant community & plants & soil microorganisms.
4.4 Plant adaptations: Morphological, Anatomical & Physiological responses of Hydrophytes, Xerophytes, and Halophytes (with one example)
Unit V: Ecosystem (10)
5.1 Community characteristics: frequency, density, abundance, Life forms, Raunkier’s
Biological spectrum: Pond & Desert ecosystem
5.2 Autecology, ecad, ecotype, Natality, Mortality, Food chain, Food web, Ecological pyramids
5.3 Conservation of forest and water resources; Agricultural, noise and thermal pollution,
5.5 Plant succession: Hydrosere, Xerosere
Unit VI: Instrumentation and Phytochemistry (10)
(a) Instrumentation
6.1 Principle, types and application of: microscopy (Light, fluorescent, SEM, TEM),
6.2 Centrifugation, Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE and Agarose), Spectroscopy (UV-Vis),
6.3 Chromatography (Paper chromatography, Thin layer chromatography
(b) Phytochemistry
6.4 Active principles of Phytochemistry
6.5 Methods of their testing phytochemical substances
6.6 Identification and utilization of the medicinal herbs; Catharanthus roseus (cardiotonic), Withania somnifera (drugs acting on nervous system), Clerodendron phlomoides (antirheumatic) and Centella asiatica (memory booster).
List of Practicals Major Physiology experiments (Any 10)
✓ To study the permeability of plasma membrane using different concentrations of organic solvents.
✓ To study the effect of temperature on permeability of membranes.
✓ To determine the osmotic potential of vacuolar sap by plasmolytic method.
✓ To determine the water potential of any tuber.
✓ To compare the rate of transpiration from two sufaces of leaf- a) bell jar method b ) Cobalt chloride method.
✓ To determine the path of water (Ascent of sap).
✓ To separater chloroplast pigments a) by solvent method and preparation of their absorption spectra b) paper chromatography.
✓ To separate amino acids from plant materials an paper chromatography and their identification by comparison with standards.
✓ To measure rate of photosynthesis by Wilmott’s bubbler under variable conditions of light, temperature and CO2.
✓ To compare rates of respiration of various plant parts.
✓ To demonstrate bioassay of auxin, cytokinin, GA, ABA and ethylene using appropriate plant materials.
✓ To perform microchemical tests for determination of reducing and non-reducing sugars, starch, cellulose, oils and proteins.
✓ To study the effect of light intensity and quality, CO2 concentration and temperature on rate of photosynthesis by suitable method.
✓ To determine osmotic potential of the cell sap by plasmolytic method. To study the activity of enzyme amylase, catalase and peroxidase.
✓ Minor Physiology experiments (Any Seven) To demonstrate the phenomenon of dispersion.
✓ To demonstrate the phenomenon of adsorption.
✓ To demonstrate the phenomenon of imbibitions.
✓ To demonstrate the root pressure.
✓ To demonstrate that the amount of water absorbed and the amount of water transpired is approximately equal.
✓ To demonstrate that the light is necessary for photosynthesiss (Ganong’s light screen). To demonstrate that the light, chlorophyll and CO2 are necessary for photosynthesis (using Moll’s half-leaf experiment).
✓ To demonstrate fermentation by Kuhne’s tube. To demonstrate aerobic respiration.
✓ To demonstrate the evolution of CO2 in respiration.
✓ To demonstrate that the part of energy is released in the form of heat during respiration.
✓ To demonstrate the measurement of growth of germination pea seeds.
✓ To demonstrate the phomenon of gravitropism (geotropism), phototropism and hydrotropism. To demonstrate seed vaiability test by T.T.C. ( Triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride)
Ecology Practicals
✓ To determine frequent, density, abundance of the community by quadrate method.
✓ To determine the homogeneity of vegetation by Raunkiers frequency diagram.
✓ To determine the water holding capacity of the given soil samples.
✓ To determine the water rising capacity of the given soil samples.
✓ To determine the soil moisture of the given samples.
✓ To study the morphological and anatomical characteristics of anyone hydrophyte and xerophyte.
✓ To study the morphological characteristics of cladode, phylloclade, phyllode and pneumatophores.
✓ Principle and working of: spectrophotometer, microscope etc.
✓ To determine the DO of water samples different sources.
✓ To study the dust holding capacity of leaves.
✓ To estimate transparency, pH and temperature of different water bodies
✓ To estimate salinity (chlorides) of different water samples.
✓ To determine the percent leaf-area injury of different leaf samples collected around polluted sites.
✓ *To separate chlorophyll pigments by chromatography.
✓ To measure chlorophyll by spectrophotometer.
✓ To measure anthocyanin by spectrophotometer.
✓ To separate chlorophyll pigments by chromatography.
✓ Identification and utilization of the medicinal herbs.
✓ To study methods of testing different drugs.
✓ To study the active principles of herbal drugs.
Suggested Readings
• Hopkins, W. G. 1995. Introduction to plant physiology. John Wiley & Sons New York, USA.
• Old, R. W. and Primrose S.B. Principles of Gene Manipulation. Blackwell scientific publications, Oxford U. K. [new edition could be there]
• Dey, P.M. &Harborne, J. B. (eds) 1997. Plant Biochemistry. Harcourt Asia Pte Ltd/Academic Press I Printed in India 2000J
• Raghavan, V. 1986 Embryogenesis in Angiosperms: A Developmental and Experimental Study. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.