Syllabus (BOTANY)

Course Type: MAJ-10

Semester: 6

Course Code: BBOTMAJ10C

Course Title: Reproductive Biology of Higher Plants

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

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Combined

Course Objective: 1. the students will have the pleasure of the cognitive development and get the latest exposure in the domain of the reproductive biology plant sciences. 2. to mould a responsible citizen who is aware of the most basic domain-independent knowledge includ

Learning Outcome: 1. Skill development of for the proper description of the different plant reproduction issues, 2. Internalization of the concept of plants reproductive behavioural pattern through the channel of the spirit of enquiry. 3. The graduates should be knowledg

(Theory, Credit 4)

Unit	Topic	No. of Lectures/Hrs
1	Introduction: History (contributions of G.B. Amici, W. Hofmeister, E. Strasburger, S.G. Nawaschin, P. Maheshwari, B.M. Johri, W.A. Jensen, J. Heslop-Harrison) and scope.	4
2	Reproductive development: Induction of flowering; flower as a modified determinate shoot. Flower development: genetic and molecular aspects.	6
3	Anther and pollen biology: Anther wall: Structure and functions, microsporogenesis, callose deposition and its significance. Microgametogenesis; Pollen wall structure, MGU (male germ unit) structure, NPC system; Palynology and scope (a brief account); Pollen wall proteins; Pollen viability, storage and germination; Abnormal features: Pseudomonads, polyads, massulae, pollinia.	10`
4	Ovule: Structure; Types; Special structures–endothelium, obturator, aril, caruncle and hypostase; Female gametophyte– megasporogenesis (monosporic, bisporic and tetrasporic) and megagametogenesis (details of Polygonum type); Organization and ultrastructure of mature embryo sac.	8
5	Pollination and fertilization: Pollination types and significance; adaptations; structure of stigma and style; path of pollen tube in pistil; double fertilization.	6
6	Self incompatibility: Basic concepts (interspecific, intraspecific, homomorphic, heteromorphic, GSI and SSI); Methods to overcome self- incompatibility: mixed pollination, bud pollination, stub pollination; Intra-ovarian and in vitro pollination; Modification of stigma surface, parasexual hybridization; Cybrids, in vitro fertilization.	10
7	Embryo, Endosperm and Seed: Structure and types; General pattern of development of dicot and monocot embryo and endosperm; Suspensor: structure and functions; Embryo-endosperm relationship; Nutrition of embryo; Unusual features; Embryo development in Paeonia. Seed structure, importance and dispersal mechanisms.	10
8	Polyembryony and apomixis: Introduction; Classification; Causes and applications.	6

Practical (Credits -2, 60 Hrs)

1. Anther: Wall and its ontogeny; Tapetum (amoeboid and glandular); MMC, spore tetrads, uninucleate, bicelled and dehisced anther stages through slides/micrographs, male germ unit (MGU) through photographs and schematic representation.
2. Pollen grains: Fresh and acetolyzed showing ornamentation and aperture, psuedomonads, polyads, pollinia (slides/photographs, fresh material), ultrastructure of pollen wall(micrograph); Pollen viability: Tetrazolium test. Germination: Calculation of percentage germination in different media using hanging drop method.
3. Ovule: Types-anatropous, orthotropous, amphitropous/campylotropous, circinotropous, unitegmic, bitegmic; Tenuinucellate and crassinucellate; Special structures: Endothelium, obturator, hypostase, caruncle and aril (permanent slides/specimens/photographs).
4. Female gametophyte through permanent slides/ photographs: Types, ultrastructure of mature egg apparatus.
5. Intra-ovarian pollination; Test tube pollination through photographs.
6. Endosperm: Study of different types.
7. Embryogenesis: Study of development of dicot embryo through permanent slides.

Reading References:

1. Bhojwani, S.S. and Bhatnagar, S.P. (2011). The Embryology of Angiosperms, Vikas Publishing House. Delhi. 5th edition.
2. Shivanna, K.R. (2003). Pollen Biology and Biotechnology. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. Delhi.
3. Raghavan, V. (2000). Developmental Biology of Flowering plants, Springer, Netherlands.
4. Johri, B.M. l (1984). Embryology of Angiosperms, Springer-Verlag, Netherlands.