MD - Unit I

Multidisciplinary: Introductory Botany (SEM-I)
Unit I: Plant Diversity and Plant Processes

Botany: The scientific study of plants is called botany. It is the branch of biological science that deals with the study of
all aspects of plant life.
I. General account of different Plant groups:

I. Algae
Algae are the simplest, eukaryotic and chlorophyll bearing plants. They are mostly aquatic occurring both in freshwater
and marine wate. The study of algae is called phycology.
 They are either unicellular or multicellular.

 They range in size from microscopic species to giant kelps that reach 60 metres (200 feet) in length.
 Algae don’t have structures like roots, stems or leaves
 They reproduce by vegetative, asexual and sexual methods.
Examples of Algae- Chlamydomonas, Chara, Laminaria
 On the basis of dominant photosynthetic pigments algae classified into three main groups.
1. Chlorophyceae (green algae)
2. Phaeophyceae (brown algae)
3. Rhodophyceae (red algae).
(a) Chlamydomonas (b) Ulva (c) Fritschiella

Fig. (a) Unicellular; (b) and (c) multicellular algae.
Algae are economically and ecologically important in a variety of ways. One of the most important ecological roles
played by algae is the production of oxygen during photosynthesis. They are also be used as source of food, fodder, in
fish farming, and as fertilizers.
II. Fungi
Fungi are achlorophyllous, eukaryotic and heterotrophic organisms. They are found where organic matter (living or dead)
is present. The study of fungi is called mycology.
 Fungi are multicellular except yeast which is unicellular.
 The body of fungi is called mycelium which is formed of interwoven mass of thread-like structures called
hyphae.
 The mycelium may be septate or aseptate.
 The cell wall of fungi is composed of chitin.
 Fungi are heterotrophic and may be either saprotrophic, parasitic or symbiotic.
 They reproduce by asexual and sexual methods.
Examples of fungi - Mold (Rhizopus), Mushrooms (Agaricus), Morels (Morchella)
Bread mold Mushroom Morel
Economic importance of fungi

Fungi play both beneficial and harmful roles. Fungi play beneficial role in industry (brewing and
baking), medicine (production of antibiotics) and agriculture (by increasing soil fertility).
Fungi are harmful in various ways as they cause many diseases in plants, animals and humans.
III. Bryophytes
Bryophytes are the most primitive land plants. They are also known as “amphibians of plant kingdom”.
Bryophytes are mostly found in moist, shady and damp places. The study of bryophytes is called bryology.
 The plant body of bryophytes is multicellular and is either flat dorsiventral or erect.
 They are small and grow only few centimetres in height.
 They lack vascular system.
 The lack true root, stem and leaves. Instead of roots they have unicellular or multicellular rhizoids.
 The sex organs in bryophyte are multicellular and jacketed. Male sex organ is known as antheridium
and female sex organ as archegonium.
 The reproduce by vegetative and sexual methods.
Importance of bryophytes
Bryophytes play some important ecological and economic roles as they prevent soil erosion, are used as
ornamentals, in medicine, in agriculture and are used as indicator plants.
Examples of bryophytes- liverworts (Marchantia); hornworts (Anthoceros); mosses (Funaria).
Liverwort (Marchantia) Moss (Funaria)
IV. Pteridophytes
Pteridophytes are terrestrial vascular plants that reproduce by spores. They don’t produce flowers and seeds and
are also known as vascular cryptogams. The study of pteridophytes is known as pteridology.
 Pteridophytes are mostly found in moist shady places.
 The plant body of pteridophytes is well differentiated into root, stem and leaves.
 They have well developed vascular system.
 The leaves are either small or very large known as fronds.
 They don’t produce flowers and seeds.
Some examples of pteridophytes:
a b c
Figs. (a) Lycopod (Lycopodium), (b) Horsetail (Equisetum) and (c) Fern (Dryopteris)
V. Gymnosperms
Gymnosperms are the primitive seed-bearing plants. They produce naked seeds i.e., not enclosed in fruits.
 They are all terrestrial and are found in cold areas where snowfall occurs.
 They are large woody trees or shrubs.
 They don’t produce flowers.
 They generally possess small needle-like leaves.
 The reproductive organs in gymnosperms occur in compact structures known as cones.
 They are mostly evergreen.
Gymnosperms are important in many ways as they provide timber, fuel (firewood), medicines and are also used
as ornamentals.
Some examples of gymnosperms:
Cycas Deodar (Cedrus) Pine (Pinus)
VI. Angiosperms
Angiosperms are the flowering plants that bear seeds within the fruits. They are found almost everywhere both
in water as well as on land.
 Angiosperms constitute the most advanced and diverse group of plants. About 80% of all known living
green plants are angiosperms.
 They are either herbs, shrubs or trees.
 They show highest diversity of root, stem and leaves.
 Angiosperms are broadly classified into two groups on the basis of number of cotyledons present in the
seed.
Monocots: Angiosperms that have single cotyledon in their seeds. E.g., Rice, maize, banana, onion
Dicots: Angiosperms that have two cotyledons in their seeds. E.g. beans. pea, apple.
Importance
Angiosperms are of great ecological and economic importance. They provide basic needs of food for most
of the animals including humans. They are also important as source of timber, fuel, medicines. spices etc.
II. Plant Processes
1. Transpiration
The process of loss of water in the form of water vapours from the aerial parts of a plant is called
transpiration.
Transpiration mostly occurs through leaves. The leaves contain numerous small pores known as stomata
through which transpiration takes place. More than 95% of water absorbed by the plant is lost through
transpiration.
Transpiration is important as it not only has cooling effect but also helps in transport of dissolved minerals
from roots to aerial parts.
2. Photosynthesis.
The process by which green plants make their own food is called photosynthesis. It may also be defined as
the process to convert light energy into chemical energy.
Thus green plants are known as autotrophs. They are also called as primary producers because all other
organisms known as heterotrophs depend upon autotrophs directly or indirectly for their food.
In photosynthesis, green plants use carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) and convert it into carbohydrates
(glucose) using sunlight as source of energy. Thus photosynthesis may also be defined as the process to
convert light energy into chemical energy. During photosynthesis, oxygen is also released.
6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
(Carbon dioxide) (water) + (sunlight) → (Glucose) (oxygen)
The photosynthesis mainly occurs in leaves in special cell organelles called chloroplasts. The
chloroplasts contain green pigment chlorophyll which absorbs sunlight and this solar energy is used to
convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.
3. Respiration
The process by which organisms breakdown food to obtain energy is called respiration.
Respiration occurs in every living cell.
.
Respiration is of two types:
i) Aerobic respiration: Respiration which occurs in presence of oxygen is called aerobic respiration.
Aerobic respiration occurs in special cell organelles known as mitochondria. As respiration leads to
production of energy, mitochondria are also known as “power house of the cell”.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP

Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy
ii) Anaerobic respiration: Respiration which occurs in absence of oxygen is called anaerobic
respiration.
Anaerobic respiration usually occurs in microorganisms. In the absence of oxygen, the glucose derived
from food is broken down into alcohol and carbon dioxide along with the production of energy.
Glucose → Alcohol + Carbon dioxide + Energy
Anaerobic respiration produces a relatively lesser amount of energy as compared to aerobic
respiration, as glucose is not completely broken down in the absence of oxygen.
Anaerobic respiration also occurs in multi-cellular organisms including humans, during
oxygen stress. During heavy or intensive exercise such as running, cycling or weight lifting, our body
demands high energy. As the supply of oxygen is limited, the muscle cells inside our body resort to
anaerobic respiration to fulfil the energy demand.
Glucose → Lactic acid + Energy

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Multidisciplinary: Introductory Botany (SEM-I)

Unit I: Plant Diversity and Plant Processes

I. General account of different Plant groups:

 They are either unicellular or multicellular.

1. Chlorophyceae (green algae)

2. Phaeophyceae (brown algae)

3. Rhodophyceae (red algae).

(a) Chlamydomonas (b) Ulva (c) Fritschiella

Examples of fungi - Mold (Rhizopus), Mushrooms (Agaricus), Morels (Morchella)

Bread mold Mushroom Morel

Economic importance of fungi

Examples of bryophytes- liverworts (Marchantia); hornworts (Anthoceros); mosses (Funaria).

Liverwort (Marchantia) Moss (Funaria)

Some examples of pteridophytes:

Some examples of gymnosperms:

Cycas Deodar (Cedrus) Pine (Pinus)

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP

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