Syllabus (BOTANY)

Course Type: MAJ-1

Semester: 1

Course Code: BBOTMAJ01C

Course Title: Plants and Microbial Diversity and its Evolution

(L-P-Tu): 4-2-0

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Combined

Course Objective: To introduce the diversity of microbial, algal and cyanobacterial, fungal worlds, their identifying features, and applications; To know about the transition towards land habit, amphibians of the plant kingdom, pteridophytes and gymnosperms, their identify

Learning Outcome: After the completion of the course the students will be able to: 1. Develop understanding about the classification and diversity of Bacteria, viruses, Algae, Fungi & Lichens & their economic importance. 2. Develop conceptual skill about identifying micr

(Theory, Credit 4)

Unit	Topic	No. of Lectures/Hrs
1	Introduction to microbial diversity; Hierarchical organization and positions of microbes in the living world: Whittaker’s five-kingdom system and Carl Richard Woese’s three-domain system.	3
2	Viruses: characteristics; classification (Baltimore), idea about viroids and prions; detailed structure T4-phage and SARS-COV2, lytic and lysogenic cycle; Economic importance of viruses.	7
3	Bacteria general characteristics; Types-archaebacteria, eubacteria, wall-less forms (mycoplasma and spheroplasts); Bergey’s classification, Cell structure; Nutritional types; vegetative and Reproductive structure - asexual and recombination (conjugation, transformation and transduction). Economic importance of bacteria with reference to their role in agriculture and industry (fermentation and medicine).	8
4	Algae General characteristics; Ecology and distribution; range of thallus organization; Cell structure and components; cell wall, pigment system, reserve food, flagella; methods of reproduction; Classification; criteria, system of Fritsch, and idea of different groups as per Lee; Morphology and reproduction and life cycles of Nostoc, Oedogonium, Chara, Fucus and Polysiphonia. Diatoms and their importance. Idea about cultivation of Spirulina; Economic importance of algae in- Food and Nutraceuticals, Feed stocks, food colorants; fertilizers, aquaculture feed; therapeutics and cosmetics; medicines; dietary fibres from algae. Algal blooms and toxins.	8
5	Introduction to fungi, General characteristics; Affinities with plants and animals; Thallus organization; Cell wall composition; Heterothallism and parasexuality. Classification Ainsworth (up to Order). Life cycles of Synchitrium, Saccharomyces, Ascobolus, Agaricus. Symbiotic associations: Lichen – Occurrence; General characteristics; Growth forms; Mycorrhiza-Ectomycorrhiza, Endomycorrhiza and their significance. Application of fungi.	8
6	Introduction to Archegoniate, Unifying features of archegoniates, Alternation of generations. Bryophytes: General characteristics; Adaptations to land habit; Range of thallus organization. Idea about different orders. Morphology, anatomy and reproduction of Marchantia, Porella, Anthoceros, and Funaria; Ecological and economic importance of bryophytes with special reference to Sphagnum.	7
7	Pteridophytes: General characteristics; Idea about different orders. Morphology, anatomy and reproduction of Psilotum, Selaginella, Equisetum and Adiantum. Heterospory and seed habit. Ecological and economic importance.	7
8	Gymnosperms: General characteristics, idea about different orders, morphology, anatomy and reproduction of Cycas, Pinus and Gnetum; Affinities and evolutionary significance of Gymnosperms Ecological and economic importance.	7
9	Palaeobotany: Plant life through ages with evolutionary significane, Geological time scale, Early land plant (Cooksonia). Types of plant fossils - impressions, compressions, incrustation, actual remains petrifaction. Factors for fossilization, Radiocarbon dating. Importance.	5

Practical (Credits -2, 60 Hrs)

1. Electron micrographs/Models of viruses – T-Phage and Sars-CoV2, Sketches of Lytic and Lysogenic Cycle.
2. Types of Bacteria to be observed in permanent slides/photographs. Micrographs of bacteria, binary fission, endospore, conjugation.
3. Study of curd organisms curd through Gram staining.
4. Study of vegetative and reproductive structures of Nostoc, Oedogonium, Chara, and Polysiphonia.
5. Study of Ascobolus, Agaricus and preparation of slides.
6. Study of Saccharomyces and Penicillium from permanent slides/photographs.
7. Lichens: Study of growth forms of lichens (crustose, foliose and fruticose) on different substrates. Study of thallus and reproductive structures (soredia and apothecium) through photographs. Mycorrhizae: ectomycorrhiza and endomycorrhiza (Photographs)
8. Marchantia- Morphology of thallus, whole mount of rhizoids & Scales, vertical section of thallus through Gemma cup, whole mount of Gemmae (all temporary slides), vertical section of Antheridiophore, Archegoniophore, longitudinal section of Sporophyte (all permanent slides).
9. Anthoceros- Morphology of thallus, dissection of sporophyte (to show spores, pseudoelaters, columella) (temporary slide), vertical section of thallus (permanent slide).
10. Funaria- Morphology, whole mount of leaf, rhizoids, operculum, peristome, annulus, spores (temporary slides); permanent slides showing antheridial and archegonial heads, longitudinal section of capsule and protonema.
11. Psilotum- Study of specimen, transverse section of synangium (permanent slide).
12. Selaginella- Morphology, whole mount of leaf with ligule, transverse section of stem, whole mount of strobilus, whole mount of microsporophyll and megasporophyll (temporary slides), longitudinal section of strobilus (permanent slide).
13. Equisetum- Morphology, transverse section of internode, longitudinal section of strobilus, transverse section of strobilus, whole mount of sporangiophore, whole mount of spores, transverse section of rhizome (all permanent slide).
14. Adiantum- Morphology, transverse section of rachis, vertical section of sporophyll, wholemount of sporangium, whole mount of spores (temporary slides), transverse section of rhizome, whole mount of prothallus with sex organs and young sporophyte (permanent slide).
15. Cycas- Morphology (leaf), vertical section of leaflet, vertical section of microsporophyll, whole mount of spores (temporary slides), longitudinal section of ovule, transverse section of root (permanent slide).
16. Pinus- Morphology (long and dwarf shoots, whole mount of dwarf shoot, male and female cones), transverse section of Needle (temporary slide), transverse section of stem, longitudinal section of / transverse section of male cone, whole mount of microsporophyll, whole mount of Microspores (temporary slides), longitudinal section of female cone, tangential longitudinal section &radial longitudinal sections stem (permanent slide).
17. Gnetum- Morphology (stem, male & female cones), transverse section of stem, vertical section of ovule (all permanent slide)
18. Study of fossil genera - Rhynia, Cooksonia and Lepidodendron through photographs.

Reading References:

1. Lee, R.E. (2008). Phycology, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 4th edition.

2. Wiley JM, Sherwood LM and Woolverton CJ. (2013) Prescott’s Microbiology. 9th Edition. McGraw Hill International.

3. Kumar, H.D. (1999). Introductory Phycology. Affiliated East-West Press, Delhi.

4. Sahoo, D. (2000). Farming the ocean: seaweeds cultivation and utilization. Aravali International,New Delhi.

5. Campbell, N.A., Reece J.B., Urry L.A., Cain M.L., Wasserman S.A. Minorsky P.V., Jackson R.B. (2008). Biology, Pearson Benjamin Cummings, USA. 8th edition.

6. Pelczar, M.J. (2001) Microbiology, 5th edition, Tata McGraw-Hill Co, New Delhi.

7. Alexopoulos, C.J., Mims, C.W., Blackwell, M. (1996). Introductory Mycology, John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Singapore. 4th edition.

8. Webster, J. and Weber, R. (2007). Introduction to Fungi, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 3rd edition.

9. Sethi, I.K. and Walia, S.K. (2011). Text book of Fungi and Their Allies, Macmillan Publishers India Ltd.

10. Vashistha, P.C., Sinha, A.K., Kumar, A. (2010). Pteridophyta. S. Chand. Delhi, India.

11. Bhatnagar, S.P. & Moitra, A. (1996). Gymnosperms. New Age International (P) Ltd Publishers, New Delhi, India.

12. Parihar, N.S. (1991). An introduction to Embryophyta: Vol. I. Bryophyta. Central Book Depot. Allahabad.

13. Raven, P.H., Johnson, G.B., Losos, J.B., Singer, S.R. (2005). Biology. Tata McGraw Hill, Delhi.

14. Vanderpoorten, A. & Goffinet, B. (2009) Introduction to Bryophytes. Cambridge University Press.