BOT 203; WATER RELATIONS, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
UNIT I
Water relations of plants: unique physio-chemical properties of water, chemical potential , water potential. Apparent free space, bulk movement of water, soil plant atmosphere, contuum (SPAC), stomatal regulation of transpirations: hormonal and energy dependent hypothesis.
Inorganic nutrition: physicochemical aspects of solute transport, diffusion and facilitated diffusion, passive and active transport.
Nernst equation and Donnan’s potential Role of ATPase as a carrier, co-transport (symport ) and counter transport (antiport). Ion channels, role of calmodulin. Importance of foliar nutrition and use of chelates.
UNIT II
Photosynthesis: Energy pathway in photosynthesis, chloroplast as an energy transducing organelle. Composition and characterizaton photo systems, I and II , electron flow through cyclic, non cyclic and pseudo cyclic photophosphorylation. Pathway of CO2 fixation. Differences between C3 and C4 fixation, different kinds of C4 pathways.
UNIT III
CAM pathway: Occurrence, biological events and adaptive advantage.
Photorespiration : mechanism and regulation of photorespiration.
Introductory studies on water stress and its tolerance mechanisms.
UNIT IV
Enzymes: Classification, mode of action, Km value.
Industrial application, immobilized enzymes, their preparation and application.
Enzyme regulation : Competitive and non-competitive , allosteric enzymes
UNIT V
Chemical control of growth and morphogenesis.
Hormonal effects on growth and development.
Bioassay of plant growth regulators and mode of action with reference to auxins.
Gibberellins, cytokins, abscisic acid and ethylene.
Phytochrome: Chemistry and photo morphogenetic effects and role in flowering.
Genetic study of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids (only types of wide occurrence.)
Dormancy: Seed and bud dormancy; hormonal regulation.
