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BOTANY – Optional (Main Examination)
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PAPER-I
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1. |
Microbiology and Plant Pathology:
Viruses, bacteria, and plasmids-structure and reproduction. General
account of infection, Phytoimmunology. Applications of microbiology in
agriculture, industry, medicine and pollution control in air, soil and
water.
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Important
plant diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and
nematodes. Mode of infection and dissemination. Molecular basis of
infection and disease resistance/defence. Physiology of parasitism and
control measures. Fungal toxins.
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2. |
Cryptogams: Algae, Fungi,
Bryophytes, Pteridophytes-structure and reproduction from evolutionary
viewpoint. Distribution of Cryptogams in
India
and their economic potential.
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3. |
Phanerogams: Gymnosperms:
Concept of Progymonosperms. Classification and distribution of
Gymnosperms. Salient features of Cycadales, Conferrals and Gnetales, their
structures and reproduction. General account of Cycadofilicales,
Bennettitales and Cordaitales.
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Angiosperms:
Systematics, anatomy, embryology, palynology and phylogeny.
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Comparative
account of various systems of Angiosperm Classiification. Study of
angiospermic families–Magnoliaceae, Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae (Cruci-ferae),
Rosaceae, Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Dipterocar-paceae,
Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), Asclepiadaceae, Verbenaceae, Solana-ceae,
Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae (Composite), Poaceae (Gramineae),
Arecaceae (Palmae), Liliaceae, Musaceae, Orchidaceae.
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Stomata and their types. Anomalous
secondary growth, Anatomy of C 3 and C 4 plants.
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Development
of male and female gametophytes, pollination, fertilization.
Endosperm–its development and function. Patterns of embryo development.
Polymbryony, apoxmix, Applications of palynology.
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Plant Utility and Exploitation:
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Origin of cultivated plants, Vavilov's
centres of origin. Plants as sources for food, fodder, fibres, spices,
beverages, drugs, narcotics, insecticides, timber, gums, resins and dyes.
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Latex,
cellulose Starch and their products. Perfumery. Importance of Ethnobotany
in Indian context. Energy plantation. Botanical Gardens and Herbaria.
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5. |
Morphogenesis: Totipotency,
polarity, symmetry and differentiation. Cell, tissue, organ and protoplast
culture. Somatic hybrids and Cybrids.
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PAPER-II
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1. |
Cell
Biology: Techniques of Cell
Biology. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells -structural and ultrastructural
details. Structure and function of extracellular matrix or ECM (cell wall)
and membranes-cell adhesion, membrane transport and vesicular transport.
Structure and function of cell organelles (chloroplasts, mitochondria, ER,
ribosomes, endosomes, lysosomes, peroxisomes, hydrogenosome). Nucleus,
nucleolus, nuclear pore complex. Chromatin and nucleosome. Cell signalling
and cell receptors. Signal transduction (G-1 proteins, etc.). Mitosis and
meisdosis; molecular basis of cell cycle. Numerical and structural
variations in chromosomes and their significance. Study of polytene,
lampbrush and B-chromosomes–structure, behaviour and significance.
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2. |
Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution:
Development of genetics, and gene versus allele concepts (Pseudoalleles).
Quantitative genetics and multiple factors. Linkage and crossing
over–methods of gene mapping including molecular maps (idea of mapping
function). Sex chromosomes and sexlinked inheritance, sex determination
and molecular basis of sex differentiation. Mutation (biochemical and
molecular basis). Cytoplasmic inheritance and cytoplasmic genes (including
genetics of male sterility). Prions and prion hypothesis.
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Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids
and protines. Genetic code and regulation of gene expression. Multigene
families.
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Organic
evolution-evidences, mechanism and theories. Role of RNA in origin and
evolution.
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3. |
Plant
Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics: Methods of plant breeding -- introduction, selection and hybridization
(pedigree, backcross, mass selection, bulk method). Male sterility and
heterosis breeding. Use of apomixis in plant breeding. Micropropagation
and genetic engineering–methods of transfer of genes and transgenic
crops; development and use of molecular markers in plant breeding.
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Standard
deviation and coefficient of variation (CV). Tests of significance
(Z-test, t-test and chi-square tests). Probability and distributions
(normal, binomial and Poisson distributions). Correlation and regression.
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4. |
Physiology and Biochemistry: Water
relations, Mineral nutrition and ion transport, mineral deficiencies.
Photosynthesis–photochemical reactions, photophosphorylation and carbon
pathways including C pathway (photorespiration), C, C and
CAM
pathways. Respiraion (anaerobic and aerobic, including
fermentation–electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation.
Chemiosmotic theory and ATP synthesis. Nitrogen fixation and nitrogen
metabolism. Enzymes, coenzymes, energy transfer and energy conservation.
Importance of secondary metabolites. Pigments as photoreceptors (plastidial
pigments and phytochrome). Photoperiodism and flowering, vernalization,
senescence. Growth substances-their chemical nature, role and applications
in agri-horticulture, growth indices, growth movements. Stress physiology
(heat, water, salinity, metal). Fruit and seed physiology. Dormancy,
storage and germination of seed. Fruit ripening -- its molecular basis and
manipulation.
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5. |
Ecology and Plant Geography:
Ecological factors. Concepts and dynamics of community. Plant succession.
Concepts of biosphere. Ecosystems and their conservation. Pollution and
its control (including phytoremediaion).
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Forest types
of
India
-- afforestation, deforestation and social forestry. Endangered plants,
endemism and Red Data Books. Biodiversity. Convention of Biological
Diversity, Sovereign Rights and Intellectual Property Rights.
Biogeochemical cells. Global warming.
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