Course Contents

Unit 1 Solutions 1.1 Types and Properties of Solutions 1.2 True Solutions Definition and Characteristics 1.3 Colloidal Solutions Definition, Characteristics, Types, Properties and Significance 1.4 Methods of Expressing Concentration of Solutions (Percentage, Molarity, Molality) 1.5 Electrolytes and Non-Electrolytes 1.6 Acids, Bases, Salts, PH and Buffers (Only Definitions) Unit 2 Water Relations 2.1 Water Potential 2.2 Pressure Potential, Role of Pressure Potential in Plant Cell 2.3 Osmotic Potential 2.4 Osmosis Definition and Importance 2.5 Diffusion Definition and Importance 2.6 Imbibitions General Concept Unit 3 Absorption of Water in Plants 3.1 Composition of Soil 3.2 Root and Its Anatomy 3.3 Apoplast Symplast Concept, Vacuolar Pathway 3.4 Mechanism of Absorption of Water by Roots 3.5 Factors Affecting Absorption of Water 3.6 Transpiration Definition, Types and Factors Affecting Rate of Transpiration Unit 4 Mineral Nutrition in Plants 4.1 Essential Mineral Elements (Macronutrients and Micronutrients) 4.2 Study Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Following Elements 4.2.1 Calcium 4.2.2 Nitrogen 4.2.3 Potassium 4.2.4 Phosphorous Unit 5 Plant Physiological Processes 5.1 Definition and Mechanism of Photosynthesis 5.2 Definition and Mechanism of Respiration 5.3 Definition and Mechanism of Nitrogen Metabolism 5.4 Dormancy Definition and Significance 5.5 Photoperiodism Definition and Classification 5.6 Growth regulators Definition, Role of Auxins, Gibberellins and Cytokinins in Plants 5.7 Briefly Study About Plant Movements Unit 6 Concepts of Ecology 6.1 Ecology Introduction, Scope and Applications 6.2 Levels of Organizations in Ecology 6.3 Plant Succession Definition, Types of Succession (Only Definitions) 6.4 Energy Flow Concept, Food Chains, Food Web and Trophic Levels Unit 7 Soil Factor and Biogeochemical Cycles 7.1 Definition of Soil, its Texture and Classification 7.2 Weathering Processes Leading to Soil Formation 7.3 Soil Micro Organisms and Their Importance 7.4 Soil Organic Matter and its Importance 7.5 Major Types of Vegetation in Pakistan (Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate, Alpine). 7.6 Biogeochemical Cycles Definition and Types

Course Synopsis

This course deals with the concepts of plant physiology and ecology. It deals with solutions, absorption of water in plants and plant mineral nutrition. It explains plant physiological processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen metabolism. It also explains ecology, soil factor and biogeochemical cycles.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to: • understands the concepts of plant physiology and ecology • explains physiological mechanism of plant growth, function and development • identifies the scope and applications of ecology. • understands the interaction between organisms and their environment