Description

 The course is divided into three parts

• Part I discusses the basics of  plant systematics  and its importance
• Part II explores structure, function and arrangement of plat tissue systems
• Part III includes the concept of developmental process in plant body

Course Contents

a)  Plant systematics

• Introduction to Plant Systematic: aims, objectives and importance.
• Classification:  Brief history of various systems of classification with emphasis on Takhtajan.
• Brief introduction to nomenclature, importance of Latin names and binomial system with an introduction to International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN).Vienna code.
• Morphology: a detailed account of various morphological characters root, stem, leaf, inflorescence, flower, placentation and fruit types.
• Diagnostic characters, economic importance and distribution pattern of the following families:

i.Ranunculaceae                  ii.Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)             iii.Fabaceae (Leguminosae) iv. Rosaceae     v.Euphorbiaceae              vi.Cucurbitaceae       vii. Lamiaceae (Labiatae)      viii. Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

 ix. Asteraceae (Compositae)   x. Liliaceae (Sen. Lato)     

b) Anatomy

• Cell wall: structure and chemical composition
• Concept, structure and function of various tissues like:

i. Parenchyma             ii. Collenchyma                iii.  Sclerenchyma

iv. Epidermis (including stomata and trichomes) v.  Xylem          vi. Phloem

• Meristem: types stem and root apices
• Vascular cambium
• Structure and development of root, stem and leaf. Primary and secondary growth of dicot stem, periderm
• Characteristics of wood: diffuse porous and ring porous, sap and heart wood, soft and hard wood, annual rings.

c)  Development/Embryology

• Early development of plant body: Capsella bursa-pastoris
• Structure and development of Anther Microsporogenesis, Microgametophyte
• Structure of Ovule Megasporogenesis, Megagametophyte
• Endosperm formation
• Parthenocarpy
• Polyembryony

Course Aim

This course aims to develop understanding about core concepts of plant systematics, anatomy and early development of plant body.

Student learning outcomes/ learning objectives

By the end of this course, student should be able to:

• Differentiate plant Taxonomy from plant Systematics
• Make the herbarium of regional flora
• Explain the various classification systems with merits and demerits
• Understand the descriptive terminology,  binomial nomenclature and rules of ICBN
• Understand the structure, function and distribution patterns  different tissue systems in plants
• Understand the secondary growth in dicots and characteristics of wood
• Distinguish the early  developmental processes of plant body

Assessment methodology

This is a four-credit lecture course

Mid Term Exam         30 Marks

Final Term Marks       45 Marks

Practical Exam           15 Marks

Sessional (Attendance, assignment & presentation) 10 Marks

Readings

James D. Mauseth (1998). Botany: an introduction to plant biology.2/e, Multimedia enhanced edition .

Moore, R. C., W. D. Clarke and Vodopich, D. S. 1998. Botany.McGraw Hill

Eichorn, S., & Evert, R. (2013). Raven biology of plants. New York: W.H. Freeman.

G. Singh. (2010).Plant systematics, An Integrated Approach.  Third Edition. Science Publishers.