Botany

Plant breading or crop improvement : Crop improvement is related with the development of improved and new crop varieties that are superior to existing ones.Objectives of crop improvement—(i) To increase the crop yield.(ii) To improve the crop quality.(iii) To develop crops which are resistant to diseases, insects, drought, frost, floods etc.(iv) To develop fast maturing […]

Soil : Soil is the uppermost layer of the earth’s crust in which plants grow.Pedology : The study of soil is known as Pedology or Edaphology or soil science.Formation of SoilSoil is formed from the parent rock by the process of disintegration into smaller particles. This is a slow and gradual process. This is known

Following are the communities of various plants :1. Xerophytes : The plants which grow at places where there is no normal supply of water, are called xerophytes.2. Hydrophytes : These are plants which grow in water or in wet places.3. Oxylophytes : Plants which grow on acidic soils are called oxylophytes.4. Halophytes : These are

Ecology : It is also known as environmental biology. In ecology we study plants and animals in relation to their environment. Plant ecology is concerned with the study of plants in relation to their environments.Different scientists have defined ecology as follows—Concept of Ecology Given ByHeackel (1869)—Ecology is the science of treating reciprocal relations of organisms

Plant Pathology : Plant pathology is the branch of botany which deals with the nature of plant diseases, their diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control.Another name of plant pathology is phytopathology.Classification of plant diseasesA disease is a harmful deviation from a normal functioning of physiological process. Following are the basis of the classification of plant diseases.Pathogen

Viruses : Viruses are very minute, acellular and ultramicroscopic particles consisting of one or more molecules of either DNA or RNA but not both, enclosed in a coat of protein.Viruses can live and multiply only in the host cells.Virology : The branch of science which deals with the study of viruses is called virology. Types

Bacteria : Bacteria are unicellular, minute, microscopic organisms. Bacteria were first observed by Anton van Leeuwanhoek in 1675.Occurence : Bacteria are found in soil, atmosphere or inside the living organisms. They are also found in deep sea water, water springs, and ice.Size : Majority of bacteria are in the range of 0.5 to 50 microns.

Microbiology : It is that branch of science which deals with the micro-organisms. These organisms can not be seen with the naked eyes.Microbiology includes the study of bacteria, viruses, yeasts moulds, microalgae, protozoa etc.Germ theory of diseases : This theory tells that all the contagious diseases are caused by micro-organisms. Branches of MicrobiologyMedical Microbiology :

Classification of plant kingdom can be dealt with as follows—Systematics : This deals with the study of diversity of organisms at all levels of organisation. It deals from cellular to population level.Taxon : Taxon is the unit of classification. The taxon includes species, genus family, order, series, class and division.Species : It is a group

Tissues called apical meristems are responsible for the growth of the plants. The primary structure to the plant body is given by apical meristems. These tissues increase the thickness of stems and roots. They also increase the height and weight of the plant. This growth in thickness is called secondary growth. This type of growth

Primary Dicot RootEpidermis : It is a protective layer. In it cuticle and stomata are absent.Exodermis : Its cells prevent the exit of water from the root.CortexGeneral Cortex : It is parenchymatous and keeps the food stored.Endodermis : It has casparian bands on radial walls and cells help in movement of water and salts from

Tissue : A tissue is defined as a group of similar cells which carry or help to carry a common function and has a common origin.Tissues are of two types—1. Meristematic tissue.2. Permanent tissue.Various types of tissues combine to form complex plant organs. These organs are roots, stem, fruits, flowers and leaves.1. Meristematic Tissue :

Taxonomy is an important branch of botany. It deals with the study of morphology, cytology, genetics, physiology etc. in botany. It also deals with the identification nomenclature and classification of plants.In taxonomy description of morphological characters are given.Aims of TaxonomyAims of taxonomy are—(a) It gives worlds flora through identification and description.(b) Taxonomy gives method of

Dispersal of seeds means how fruits and seeds disperse to distant places. Dispersal is very much essential for the new plants to grow. If they do not disperse, they will directly fall below the plant and germinate. New plants will grow below the mother plant. Due to this they will not get food and population

Fruit : After fertilization the ovary begins to develop into a fruit and the ovules inside the ovary develop into seeds. Such a fertilized, developed and ripened ovary is called a fruit.ParthenocarpyIn parthenocarpy unfertilized ovary develops into a fruit. Such type of fruits do not have seeds.Parthenocarpic fruits are of three types—(a) Genetic parthenocarpy :