Plant Physiology

By Dr. Mohmad Arief Zargar | Department of Botany, University of Kashmir

Learners enrolled: 659

The course “Plant Physiology” is a Major Course in Semester IV/V of B.Sc. Botany under the Choice Based Credit System (CBSE) as per NEP 2020. The course has been meticulously designed to acquaint and enlighten the students about key concepts regarding various functional aspects of plants and complement the understanding of different topics of Plant Physiology, with special focus on uptake and translocation of water and nutrients, physiology of flowering and the role of plant growth regulators and photoreceptors.

objectives of this course are to give the target students an understanding of:

· Water Potential and its components, and how they drive the flow of water

· How the ascent of sap occurs in xylem

· Transpiration and mechanism of stomatal movement.

· The importance of mineral nutrition especially the role and deficiency symptoms of essential elements

· How nutrients are uptaken and transported across cell membranes through active and passive processes

· How translocation in the phloem occurs and its dependency on phloem loading and unloading

· Discovery, chemical nature and physiological roles of plant growth regulators and some photoreceptors

· Physiology of flowering with special focus on photoperiodism and vernalization

· Seed dormancy

· Growth and development

. Stress Physiology

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Botany
Credit Points :	4
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	06 Jan 2025
End Date :	30 Apr 2025
Enrollment Ends :	28 Feb 2025
Exam Date :	24 May 2025 IST
NCrF Level	5.0, 5.5
Exam Shift :	II

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

WEEK - I

1. Water and life

2. Physical chemical properties of water

3. Water Potential and its components

4. Aquaporins

WEEK - II

5. Diffusion, osmosis, absorption (SPAC)

6. Ascent of sap

7. Transpiration: Its importance and factors affecting transpiration

8. Mechanism of opening and closing of stomata

WEEK - III

9. Essential macronutrients and micronutrients: Role, deficiency and toxicity

10. Methods of study and use of nutrient solutions, Chelating agents

11. Biological membrane: Structure and Function

12. Chemical properties of soil (pH and soil nutrient status)

WEEK - IV

13. Soil as a nutrient reservoir and transport of ions across cell membrane (passive absorption)

14. Active absorption

15. Mineral nutrient uptake (mechanism)

16. Phloem transport

WEEK - V

17. Phloem loading

18. Phloem unloading

19. Source–sink relationship

20. Auxins—history of discovery, biosysnthesis and mechanism of action

WEEK - VI

21. Gibberellins—history of discovery, biosysnthesis and mechanism of action

22. Cytokinins—history of discovery, biosysnthesis and mechanism of action

23. Abscisic acid—history of discovery, biosysnthesis and mechanism of action

24. Ethylene – history of discovery, biosynthesis and role in plant growth and development

WEEK - VII

25. Bioassay of Auxins, Cytokinins and Gibberellins

26. Bioassay of Abscisic acid and Ethylene

27. Brassinosteroids: discovery, chemical nature, bioassay and physiological roles,

28. Jasmonic acid: discovery, chemical nature, bioassay and physiological roles

WEEK - VIII

29. Development of flower as a modified shoot

30. Physiology of flowering

31. Flowering and photoperiodism (Short-day, Long-day and Day-neutral plants)

32. Seed dormancy (types) and seed germination

WEEK - IX

33. Phytochromes—discovery, role and mechanism of action

34. Cryptochromes: discovery, chemical nature, role in photomorphogenesis, mode of action

35. Phototropins: discovery, chemical nature, role in photomorphogenesis, mode of action
36. Low energy responses (LER) and high irradiance responses (HIR)

WEEK - X

37. Growth: phases and kinetics

38. Flowering plants: annuals, biennials and perennials

39. Senescence—mechanism and role

40. Leaf abscission and senescence

WEEK - XI

41. Plant movements

42. Leaf adaptations to water stress

43. Morphological and anatomical responses of plants to water

44. Physiological responses of plants to water stress

WEEK - XII

45. Morphological, anatomical and physiological responses of plants to salinity

Books and references

Taiz, L., Moller, M., Murphy, A. and Zeiger, E. 2022. Plant Physiology and Development (7^th Edition). Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers, USA.

Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Moller, M. and Murphy, A. 2014. Plant Physiology and Development (6th Edition). Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers, Massachusetts, USA.

Hopkins, W. G. and Huner, N. P. A. 2009. Introduction to Plant Physiology (4th Edition). John Wiley and Sons, Inc. USA.

Mohr Hans, Schoper. P and Gamon A. 2019. Plant Physiology (5th edition). Springer.

Nobel, P. S. 2009. Physiochemical and Environmental Plant Physiology, Fourth Edition. Academic Press.

Pandey, B.P. 2023. Botany For B.Sc. Students Semester V: Paper 1 | Plant Physiology, Metabolism & Biochemistry | Experiments in Physiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology - NEP 2020 UP. ‎ S Chand and Company Ltd , India.

Srivastava, L. M. 2002. Plant Growth and Development: Hormones and Environment (1st edition). Academic Press, USA.

Mengel, K., Kirkby, E. A., Kosegarten, H. and Appel, T. 2001. Principles of Plant Nutrition (5th edition). Kluwer Academic Publisher, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Salisbury, F.B. and Ross, C.W. 1992. Plant Physiology (4th ed.). Wadsworth Publishing Company, Belmont, California.

Instructor bio

Dr. Mohmad Arief Zargar

Department of Botany, University of Kashmir

Dr. Mohmad Arief Zargar is a Senior Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany University of Kashmir Srinagar. He has been teaching various PG Courses in Botany such as Plant Biochemistry, Plant Physiology, Postharvest Technology of Cut Flowers, Crop Physiology, Biostatistics and Commercial Floriculture for the last 17 years. His area of research is Postharvest Physiology and Phytochemical Analysis of Medicinal Plants.

He obtained M. Sc. degree from the University of Kashmir and qualified reputed national level examination CSIR-UGC NET in 2001. He started his research career in the same University to obtain M. Phil. degree on the topic "Physiology of Senescence and Regulation of Vase Life in Some Ornamental Flowers of Kashmir". He worked for his Ph. D. on the topic, “Phytochemical Analysis and Development of Conservation Strategies for Epimedium elatum”.

He has published many research papers in the reputed journals, authored 1 book and attended many national and international conferences in India and abroad. He has been awarded an international award, “2016 Kader Awards in Postharvest Training” by the Board of Directors of The Postharvest Education Foundation, USA. He is a reviewer of many reputed scientific journals.

Course certificate

30 Marks will be allocated for Internal Assessment and 70 Marks will be allocated for end term proctored examination Securing 40% in both separately is mandatory to pass the course and get Credit Certificate.

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