UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
B.Sc. DEGREE COURSE IN BOTANY
SEMESTER SYSTEM WITH CREDITS
(Effective from the Academic Year 2003-2004)
SYLLABUS

Semester VI - Paper XI - Plant Physiology and Plant Biochemistry

Duration: 3 hrs
Maximum Marks: 100
Credits: 4

Lecture 4 Hrs; Practicals 2 Hrs. per week

Plant Physiology

Unit - I

Water uptake: imbibition, diffusion, osmosis, water potential and its components - Translocation of water Ascent of sap - Transpiration - Stomatal physiology - Guttation - Water stress and its significance - Translocation in Phloem.

Unit - II

Growth - measurement of growth, growth curve - PGR, Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Ethylene Growth regulation, application of hormones in agriculture - Nitrogen fixation in plants.

Unit - III

Photomorphogenesis - Photoperiodism, Vernalisation, Phytochrome, Biological clock. Physiology of germination - Types and methods to overcome dormancy.

Plant Biochemistry

Unit - IV

Chemical Bonds - pH - buffers - Structure and classification of carbohydrates, lipds, protiens and nucleic acids.

Enzymes: Properties; nomenclature and classification as per ECIUB (Enzyme Commission of the lnternationl Union of Biochemistry); Cofactor; Coenzymes and mode of action. Factors affecting enzyme action.

Unit - V

Photosynthesis: Photosynthetic pigment systems - radiant energy - cyclic and noncyclic electron transport - C3 and C4 pathways - factors affecting photosynthesis - photorespiration Respiration: Aerobic - anaerobic, Glycolysis, Krerb's cycle, oxidation - reduction potential, ATP synthesis, Factors affecting respiration.

Practicals

1. Determination of solute potential by plasmolytic method.
2. Effect of organic solvents on membrane permeability.
3. Study of relative rates of transpiration in different plants
4. Determination of percentage of viability of seeds with Tetrazolium chloride.
5. Separation of plant pigments by paper chromatography.
6. Study of rate of photosynthesis under different light intensities.
7. Determination of pH of soil and plant sap using pH meter.
8. Test for starch, lipids and proteins.

Demonstration Experiments

1. Hydrolysis of starch by Amylase
2. Activity of Catalase
3. Induction of roots in leaves by Auxins
4. Effect of Auxins on etiolated stem

Reference Books

1. Salisbury F.B and Ross C.W 1991, Plant Physiology, Wassworth Publishing Co, Belmont.
2. Bidwell R.G.S 1974, Plant Physiology. Macmillan Publication Co, New York.
3. Rama Rao A.V.S.S 1988, Text Book of Biochemistry, L.K & S Publishers.
4. Rao K.N Sudakar Rao G and Bharathan S 1987, The Functioning of Plant. S.Viswanathan Pvt Ltd.
5. Ting I.P 1982, Plant Physiology, Addison Wesley Publication Co. Philippines.
6. Michealis I and Torrey J.C 1956, Plant in Action, W.H. Freeman.
7. Withem, F.H Blaydes D.F and Devlin R.N 1972, Experiments in Plant Physiology, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.
8. Conn E.E, P.K. Stumpf, G.Brueming and R.H.Doi 1987, Outlines of Biochemistry, John Wiley & Co, New York.
9. William H, Elliot and Daphane C, Elliot 1997, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oxford University Press.