CROP 111: Introduction to Agricultural Botany

Hierarchical organization of plant life, from single cells to flowering plants: algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms; structure of plant cells, tissues, organs.  Fine cell structures and their functions.  Mitosis, meiosis, molecular basis of inheritance, protein synthesis.  Root modification of roots, arrangement of tissues in monocotyledonous (monocot) and dicotyledonous (dicot) roots.  Stem: modification of stems, arrangement of tissues in monocot and dicot stems.  Leaf: simple, compound, venation, shapes, arrangement and modification of leaves; arrangement of tissues in monocot and dicot leaves. Reproduction in plants.   Flower: parts, types, floral arrangements (inflorescence), and floral diagrams.  Fruit and seed: structure, types germination and dormancy.  Principles of classification including concepts of species, genus, family, order, division and kingdom, binomial system of nomenclature.