JIPMER Entrance Botany Syllabus

Botany syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Botany in JIPMER Entrance, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Diversity and Structure of Plants

   4 topics

   • Biological Classification and Plant Kingdom
     • Algae, bryophytes and pteridophytes
     • Gymnosperms and angiosperms
   • Morphology of Flowering Plants
     • Root, stem and leaf modifications
     • Inflorescence, flower and fruit
   • Anatomy of Flowering Plants
     • Tissues and tissue systems
     • Secondary growth
   • The Living World and Taxonomy
2. 2

   Plant Physiology

   5 topics

   • Transport in Plants
     • Diffusion, osmosis and water potential
     • Transpiration and ascent of sap
   • Mineral Nutrition
   • Photosynthesis
     • Light reactions and electron transport
     • Calvin cycle, C4 pathway and photorespiration
   • Respiration in Plants
     • Glycolysis, Krebs cycle and ETC
     • Fermentation and respiratory quotient
   • Plant Growth, Development and Hormones
3. 3

   Reproduction and Genetics in Plants

   3 topics

   • Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
     • Pollination and double fertilization
     • Embryo and seed development
   • Principles of Inheritance and Variation
     • Mendelian genetics and laws
     • Linkage, recombination and chromosomal disorders
   • Molecular Basis of Inheritance
     • DNA replication and structure
     • Transcription, translation and gene regulation
4. 4

   Ecology and Applied Botany

   4 topics

   • Organisms and Populations
   • Ecosystem Structure and Function
     • Energy flow and food chains
     • Nutrient cycling and ecological pyramids
   • Biodiversity and Conservation
   • Biotechnology and Its Applications in Agriculture

Botany flashcards for JIPMER Entrance

18 of 56 cards from the Botany deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In the five-kingdom classification proposed by R.H. Whittaker (1969), what are the five kingdoms and the main criteria used?

   Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. Criteria: cell structure (prokaryotic/eukaryotic), body organisation, mode of nutrition (autotrophic/heterotrophic), reproduction and phylogenetic relationships.

2. What are the three domains in Carl Woese's classification, and how do they refine the kingdom Monera?

   Archaea (Archaebacteria), Bacteria (Eubacteria) and Eukarya. Monera is split into the two prokaryotic domains Archaea and Bacteria.

3. Distinguish the modes of nutrition of the three groups within kingdom Fungi-like and plant-like protists vs. true fungi: how do Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes differ in their sexual spores?

   Phycomycetes: zoospores/aplanospores, no distinct sex spore (zygospore formed). Ascomycetes: sexual spores are ascospores produced in asci. Basidiomycetes: sexual spores are basidiospores produced on basidia.

4. What is the defining feature of viroids, and who discovered them?

   Viroids are free, circular, single-stranded RNA molecules lacking a protein coat; smaller than viruses. Discovered by T.O. Diener (causes potato spindle tuber disease).

5. State the binomial nomenclature rules: who proposed it and what are the two components of a scientific name?

   Proposed by Carolus Linnaeus. Name has two parts: genus (capitalized) and species (lowercase), both italicized/underlined and in Latin, e.g., Mangifera indica.

6. List the taxonomic hierarchy (categories) from largest to smallest used in classifying organisms.

   Kingdom > Phylum/Division > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species.

7. Define aestivation and name its four main types in a flower.

   Aestivation is the arrangement of sepals or petals in a floral bud. Types: valvate, twisted, imbricate, and vexillary.

8. What is the difference between racemose and cymose inflorescence?

   Racemose: main axis continues to grow, flowers borne laterally in acropetal succession (oldest at base). Cymose: main axis terminates in a flower, so growth is limited; flowers in basipetal order (oldest at top/centre).

9. Differentiate marginal, axile and parietal placentation with an example each.

   Marginal: ovules on one margin (pea). Axile: placenta axial, ovules attached to central axis in multilocular ovary (tomato, lemon). Parietal: ovules on inner wall, ovary one-chambered but appears two by false septum (mustard).

10. What is the floral formula symbol set for actinomorphic, zygomorphic, bisexual and epigynous flowers?

    Actinomorphic: ⊕; Zygomorphic: % (or ↑); Bisexual: ⚥; Epigynous (inferior ovary): line above the gynoecium number (G with bar over G).

11. Name the types of root modifications for storage and give an example of each.

    Tap-root storage: fusiform (radish), conical (carrot), napiform (turnip). Adventitious storage: tuberous (sweet potato).

12. What is the venation pattern and root system typically found in monocots vs dicots?

    Monocots: parallel venation and fibrous (adventitious) root system. Dicots: reticulate venation and tap root system.

13. Describe the tissue arrangement in a dicot stem vs monocot stem vascular bundles.

    Dicot stem: vascular bundles arranged in a ring, conjoint, collateral, open (with cambium). Monocot stem: bundles scattered in ground tissue, conjoint, collateral, closed (no cambium), with bundle sheath.

14. What are the three components of the dermal/ground/vascular tissue systems? Name the tissue systems of a plant.

    Epidermal tissue system (epidermis, stomata, appendages), ground tissue system (parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma), and vascular tissue system (xylem and phloem).

15. What is the Casparian strip and where is it found, what is its function?

    A band of suberin (and lignin) on the radial and tangential walls of endodermal cells in roots. It blocks the apoplastic movement of water/ions, forcing them through the symplast for selective uptake.

16. Name the components of xylem and phloem.

    Xylem: tracheids, vessels, xylem fibres, xylem parenchyma. Phloem: sieve tube elements, companion cells, phloem parenchyma, phloem fibres.

17. What is the difference between water potential, solute (osmotic) potential and pressure potential? Give the equation.

    Water potential (Ψw) = solute potential (Ψs) + pressure potential (Ψp). Ψs is always negative (due to solutes); Ψp is usually positive (turgor). Pure water at standard conditions has Ψw = 0.

18. Distinguish imbibition, osmosis and diffusion as types of water movement.

    Diffusion: net movement of molecules from high to low concentration. Osmosis: diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane down its water potential. Imbibition: absorption of water by hydrophilic colloids (e.g., dry seeds swelling).

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