Course Contents

Introduction Importance of radiant energy and nomenclature (ii) Physical and Psychophysical Aspects (a) Sources of Light: Sun, Incandescent lamps, Fluorescent lamps, Mercury vapor lamps (b) Radiometry: Basics of radiometry, Spectrum wavelength, Frequency, Velocity, Reflection, Refraction, Absorption, Transmission, Interference (c) Photometry: Basics of Photometry, photometric quantities, working principle of Flame-photometer, Illumination meter and units of measurement (e) Photochemistry: Basic laws, Photon energy. Quantum yield, Excited states, Primary and Secondary reactions. (iii) Phytophysical Aspects (a) Photosynthesis Photosyntetic apparatus, Pigments, PSI, PSII, Photophosphorylation, Mitchell hypothesis Physiological and ecological consideration. Light, leaves And Photosynthesis, Photosynthetic response by intact leaves (b) Photorespiration: Metabolism. PCO cycle, Oxygen effects, Carbon dioxide effects, Glycolate, Nitrogen metabolism, Energy, and Inhibitors (c) Phytochromes: Structure, properties, Synthesis, purification, Interconversion, Intermediates, Dark reversion, Destruction (d) Cryptochrome: Cryptochrome (blue-light photoreceptor), Characteristics, Mechanism of action. Practicals (1) To study photosynthetic parameters using IRGA (2) To demonstrate Hill’s reaction with isolated chloroplasts (3) Estimation of CO2 compensation point in C3 and C4 plants. (4) To study the effects of light on non-structural carbohydrates in plants. (5) To study the K accumulation by guard cells during stomatal opening in light. (6) To study the role of phytochrome in germination of light sensitive seeds. (7) To study the effect of R and FR light on plant growth.