Exploring Plant Physiology: Understanding the Science of How Plants Function

This comprehensive course dives deep into the vital processes that keep plants alive, growing, and adapting. Perfect for biology enthusiasts and students preparing for competitive exams, the lessons are designed to simplify complex topics with clarity and real-life connections.

Curriculum Structure of Plant Physiology

1. Transport in Plants
   • Means of transport (Diffusion, Facilitated diffusion, Active transport)
   • Plant–water relations (Osmosis, Plasmolysis, Water potential)
   • Long-distance transport of water (Cohesion-tension theory, Transpiration pull)
   • Transpiration and its factors
   • Phloem transport (Mass flow hypothesis, source–sink relationship)
2. Mineral Nutrition
   • Essential minerals: their role in plants
   • Deficiency symptoms
   • Mechanism of mineral absorption
   • Nitrogen metabolism (Biological nitrogen fixation, Nitrogen cycle)
3. Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
   • Pigments involved in photosynthesis
   • Light reaction (Photophosphorylation, Electron transport chain)
   • Cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation
   • C3, C4, and CAM pathways
   • Chemiosmotic hypothesis
   • Photorespiration and its significance
4. Respiration in Plants
   • Glycolysis, Fermentation
   • Krebs’ cycle (TCA cycle)
   • Electron Transport System (ETS)
   • Oxidative phosphorylation
   • Energy yield (ATP balance sheet)
   • Respiratory quotient (RQ)
5. Plant Growth and Development
   • Growth and its phases
   • Measurement of growth
   • Growth regulators (Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Abscisic Acid, Ethylene)
   • Photoperiodism and Vernalisation
   • Seed dormancy and germination