Respiration is the process of oxidative breakdown of organic materials with the release of energy and change of Potential Energy into Kinetic Energy.Respiration is a catabolic process as the breakdown of cellular substances with the liberation of energy takes place.Respiratory Substrate : Respiratory substrate is the protoplasmic materials which on oxidation liberates energy. Glucose is […]

Plants need both, inorganic as well as organic matter, for their nutrition. This is called mineral nutrition. They get inorganic matter from outside and organic matter they synthesize for themselves.If the elements needed by a plant are not received by it, it can not complete its life cycle. Elements help in the metabolic activity of

Water Absorption : Water is absorbed by the roots of the plant from the soil. It goes into the plant and then into and out of cells of different parts and then it goes outside the atmosphere.The absorption of water by plant is known as water uptake.Flow of WaterBulk Flow : It is defined as

Economic botany deals with the importance of botany.The primary needs of human beings are food, shelter and clothing; and all the three are supplied by plants. Different plants yield food, fibres, oil, wood, vegetables, rubber, drugs, fruits, latex, spices, beverages, gums, tannins, dyes, etc. Economically important plants can be classified into the following types—Medicinal plants

Genetics is that branch of biology which deals with heredity and variations. It tells about the inborn traits of organisms.In genetics we study—(a) Gene structure and function.(b) Production of transgenic plants and animals.(c) Production of useful proteins by new methods.Genes : Genes are present on chromosomes and are carriers of characters.Heredity : Heredity is the

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