OBJECTIVE PLANT PHYSIOLOGY (MCQ in Plant Physiology) 2nd Revised Edition

About the Authors

Dr. Padmanabh Dwivedi, Professor in the Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, specializes in stress physiology, plant tissue culture, plant microbe interaction and biodiversity management. A doctorate from University of Cambridge (U.K.), he has teaching and research experience of over 16 and 24 years, respectively. He has to his credit around 180 publications including research papers in national and international journals, book chapters, etc. He also has authored five books which find place in national as

well as various Overseas Institutions’ libraries. Dr. Dwivedi has carried out research work in 04 Overseas Research laboratories. He has handled/completed several research projects funded by CST(UP), UGC, State Horticulture Mission, DBT, NMPB, DST. He is a recipient of several scholarships/fellowship/awards such as Gold Medal (BHU), University Medal (BHU), Malviya Medal (BHU), Young Scientist award (CST, Govt. of U.P.), Cambridge Nehru Scholarship award, Overseas Research Studentship award of U.K., Downing Muller Scholarship award of University of Cambridge (U.K.), UNESCO-Czech Academy of Sciences Fellowship, INSA-DFG Fellowship, R D Asana Medal (Indian Society for Plant Physiology), Prof. Hira Lal Chakravarty Medal (Indian Science Congress Association), Prof. Y.S. Murty Medal (Indian Botanical Society), Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship (U.K.), etc. He is a Life Fellow of Cambridge Commonwealth Society, Cambridge Philosophical Society, Indian Society for Plant Physiology, Indian Botanical Society, Purvanchal Environmental Association. He has wide educational administrative experience.

Mr. Prasann Kumar is a Ph.D. student (SRF) in the Department of Plant Physiology, I.Ag.Sci., BHU, doing his thesis work under the supervision of Dr. Padmanabh Dwivedi. He has completed projects/training programmes of 2 to 4 months duration that were funded by INSA, IASc, NASI, Indian Lac Research Institute (Ranchi) and Fruit & Vegetable Preservation and Processing at BHU. He also has completed successfully Edusat based Distance Learning Programme organized by IIRS, Dehradun and ISRO, Ahmadabad. Besides he participated in one year course of

International Agricultural Rural Development Programme (IARDH 6020 & IARD 4030) sponsored by Cornell University, USA. He is a recipient of National Talent Scholarship, prize in National Agri-Tech Model presentation and a few other recognitions. He is recipient of UGC Research Fellowship for doing Ph.D. and qualified GATE 2012. He has 25 publications to his credit including research papers, book chapters and popular articles, besides having published two books. He acts as a referee for the journal Ecotoxicology & Environmental Safety.

OBJECTIVE PLANT PHYSIOLOGY (MCQ in Plant Physiology) [FOR ARS, CSIR, TIFR/NCBS, IISc, GATE, IIT-JAM, JRF, SRF, BIOLOGY OLYMPIADS AND OTHER COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS] (2nd Revised Edition)

Prof. Padmanabh Dwivedi Prasann Kumar Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005

An imprint of Scientific Publishers (India)

Published by: Competition Tutor 5-B, New Pali Road, P.O. Box 91 Jodhpur 342 001 (India) E-mail: competitiontutor@gmail.com Website: www.competitiontutor.co.in © 2016 Authors An imprint of Scientific Publishers (India) All rights reserved. No part of this publication or the information contained herein may be reproduced, adapted, abridged, translated, stored in a retrieval system, computer system, photographic or other systems or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, by photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written prior permission from the author and the publishers. Disclaimer: Whereas every effort has been made to avoid errors and omissions, this publication is being sold on the understanding that neither the author nor the publishers nor the printers would be liable in any manner to any person either for an error or for an omission in this publication, or for any action to be taken on the basis of this work. Any inadvertent discrepancy noted may be brought to the attention of the publishers, for rectifying it in future editions, if published. First Edition: 2013 ISBN: 978-81-7233-954-8 eISBN: 978-93-86102-17-1 Printed in India

Dedicated in loving memory of the founder of the Department of

Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences,

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Late Professor Bhola Nath Singh, D.Sc. (September 20, 1901 - June 6, 1984)

PREFACE (2nd Edition)

We are delighted to present this revised edition of the book where we have added a new chapter, Chapter 29 (Matching type questions) which covers questions from various aspects of plant physiology. Such sort/pattern of questions is regular feature in competitive examinations including that of ARS, CSIR, GATE, IIT-JAM, ICAR-JRF, JRF, SRF, etc. There are more than 2400 questions in this edition of book covering different aspects of the subject. We hope the present edition would satisfy the students. We welcome criticism and comments from readers. Our thanks are due to M/s Scientific Publishers (India), Jodhpur for printing this revised edition of the book.

Padmanabh Dwivedi Prasann Kumar

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 5th September 2015

CONTENTS

1. THE BIOLOGICAL CLOCK: RHYTHMS OF LIFE 1

2. PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS 6

3. THE POWER OF MOVEMENT IN PLANTS 16

4. PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS 25

5. PHOTOPERIODISM 59

6. TEMPERATURE: PLANT DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION

65

7. SECONDARY METABOLITES 68

8. RESPONSES OF PLANTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS 79

9. GERMINATION AND DORMANCY 89

10. VERNALIZATION 93

11. TRANSLOCATION OF ORGANIC SOLUTES 95

12. ABSORPTION OF MINERAL SALTS 100

13. MINERAL NUTRITION OF PLANTS 105

14. TRANSPIRATION AND GUTTATION 120

15. PLANT TISSUE CULTURE 129

16. ECO-PHYSIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY 143

17. PHOTOSYNTHESIS 149

18. ENZYMES AND VITAMINS 181

19. INSTRUMENTATION IN PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 193

20. THE PLANT CELL 200

21. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 223

22. PHYSIOLOGY OF CROP PLANTS 238

23. WATER RELATIONS 245

24. NITROGEN METABOLISM AND BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION

252

25 SULFUR ASSIMILATION AND METABOLISM IN PLANTS 259

26. CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM IN PLANTS 263

27. SPECIAL MODES OF NUTRITION 268

28. RESPIRATION AND PHOTORESPIRATION 271

29. MATCHING TYPE QUESTIONS 277

ANSWERS 433