BIOL-520 Introductory Plant Physiology-

UNIT I-

Water relations in plant- Osmosis, Diffusion Inhibition, Plasmolysis, Permeability, Concept of diffusion pressure deficit & water potential, Water absorption, Ascent of sap, Transpiration, Guttation, Potassium ion transport theory in relation to stomatal opening, Antitranspirants.

UNIT II-

Nitrogen assimilation, Nitrogen fixation, symbiosis, nitrogen fixing organisms, biofertilizers, nitrogen cycle.

UNIT III-

Importance of macro & micro nutrients, their deficiency and symptoms, Ash analysis, nutrient uptake, Donnan equilibrium, Carrier transport, Hydroponics.

UNIT IV-

Role of plant hormones such as Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Ethylene, Abscicic acid, Photoperiodism, Vernalisation, Tropisms, Senescence and Abscission.

UNIT V-

Photosynthesis, historical perspective, structure of chlorophyll, light reaction, Emerson enhancement effect, photo phosphorylation, C3 & C4 plants, photorespiration, law of limiting factors.

UNIT VI-

Stress physiology- Stress and strain, kinds of stress, mechanism of stress adaptation of plant to stress.

Practical:

 Demonstration of osmosis
 Demonstration of osmotic potential of a cell
 Stomatal studies
 Measurement of rate of transpiration
 Nutrients deficiency symptoms in plants
 Measurement of rate of photosynthesis in an aquatic plant
 To demonstrate that light and CO2 are essential for photosynthesis
 To demonstrate that O2 is consuming during respiration