BOTANY

PAPER‐I

Structure and reproduction/multiplication of viruses, viroid’s, bacteria, fungi and mycoplasma;
Applications of microbiology in agriculture, industry, medicine and in control of soil and water pollution; Prion and Prion hypothesis.
Important crop diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and nematodes;
Modes of infection and dissemination
Molecular basis of infection and disease resistance/defense
Physiology of parasitism and control measures.
Fungal toxins.
Modelling and disease forecasting; Plant quarantine.

Algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, pteridophytes-structure and reproduction from evolutionary viewpoint
Distribution of Cryptogams in India and their ecological and economic importance.

Gymnosperms

Concept of Progymnosperms.
Classification and distribution of gymnosperms.
Salient features of Cycadales, Ginkgoales, Coniferales and Gnetales, their structure and reproduction.
General account of Cycadofilicales, Bennettitales and Cordaitales
Geological time scale
Type of fossils and their study techniques.

Angiosperms

Systematics, anatomy, embryology, palynology and phylogeny.
Taxonomic hierarchy; International Code of Botanical Nomenclature; Numerical taxonomy and chemotaxonomy; Evidence from anatomy, embryology and palynology.
Origin and evolution of angiosperms; Comparative account of various systems of classification of angiosperms
Study of angiosperm families— Mangnoliaceae, Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Apiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Verbenaceae, Solanaceae, Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Arecaceae, Liliaceae, Musaceae and Orchidaceae.
Stomata and their types
Glandular and non-glandular trichomes
Unusual secondary growth
Anatomy of C3 and C4 plants
Xylem and phloem differentiation
Wood anatomy.
Development of male and female gametophytes, pollination, fertilization
Endosperm—its development and function.
Patterns of embryo development
Polyembryony, apomixis
Applications of palynology
Experimental embryology including pollen storage and test-tube fertilization.

Domestication and introduction of plants
Origin of cultivated plants, Vavilov’s centres of origin.
Plants as sources for food, fodder, fibres, spices, beverages, edible oils, drugs, narcotics, insecticides, timber, gums, resins and dyes; latex, cellulose, starch and its products
Perfumery
Importance of Ethnobotany in Indian context
Energy plantations
Botanical Gardens and Herbaria.

Techniques of cell biology.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells—structural and ultrastructural Details
Structure and function of extracellular matrix (cell wall) and membranes-cell adhesion, membrane transport and vesicular transport
Structure and function of cell organelles (chloroplasts, mitochondria, ER, dictyosomes ribosomes, endosomes,lysosomes, peroxisomes
Cytoskeleton and microtubules
Nucleus, nucleolus, nuclear pore complex
Chromatin and nucleosome
Cell signalling and cell receptors
Signal transduction Mitosis and meiosis
molecular basis of cell cycle
Numerical and structural variations in chromosomes and their significance
Chromatin organization and packaging of genome
Polytene chromosomes; B-chromosomes—structure, behaviour and significance.

Development of genetics, and gene versus allele concepts (Pseudoalleles)
Quantitative genetics and multiple factors
Incomplete dominance, polygenic inheritance, multiple alleles
Linkage and crossing over of gene mapping including molecular maps (idea of mapping, function)
Sex chromosomes and sex-linked inheritance; sex determination and molecular basis of sex differentiation
Mutations (biochemical and molecular basis)
Cytoplasmic inheritance and cytoplasmic genes (including genetics of male sterility).
Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins; Genetic code and regulation of gene expression
Gene silencing
Multigene families
Organic evolution-evidences, mechanism and theories.
Role of RNA in origin and evolution.

Methods of plant breeding—introduction, selection and hybridization (pedigree, backcross, mass selection, bulk method)
Mutation, polyploidy, male sterility and heterosis breeding.
Use of apomixis in plant breeding; DNA sequencing
Genetic engineering—methods of transfer of genes
Transgenic crops and biosafety aspects
Development and use of molecular markers in plant breeding
Tools and techniques—probe, southern blotting, DNA fingerprinting, PCR and FISH. Standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV).
Tests of significance (Z-test, t-test and chi-square tests).
Probability and distributions (normal, binomial and Poisson).
Correlation and regression.

Water relations, mineral nutrition and ion transport, mineral deficiencies.
Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply.
Photosynthesis—photochemical reactions, photophosphorylation and carbon fixation pathways
C3, C4 and CAM pathways
Mechanism of phloem transport,
Respiration (anaerobic and aerobic, including fermentation)—electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation
Photorespiration
Chemiosmotic theory and ATP synthesis
Lipid metabolism
Nitrogen fixation and nitrogen metabolism.
Enzymes, coenzymes
Energy transfer and energy conservation.
Importance of secondary metabolites.
Pigments as photoreceptors (plastidial pigments and phytochrome).
Plant movements
Photoperiodism and flowering, vernalization, senescence
Growth substances—their chemical nature, role and applications in agri-horticulture, growth indices, growth movements.
Stress physiology (heat, water, salinity, metal)
Fruit and seed physiology.
Dormancy, storage and germination of seed.
Fruit ripening—its molecular basis and manipulation.

Concept of ecosystem, Ecological factors.
Concepts and dynamics of community; Plant succession.
Concepts of biosphere; Ecosystems; Conservation; Pollution and its control (including phytoreme- diation); Plant indicators; Environment (Protection) Act.
Forest types of India—‘Ecological and economic importance of forests, afforestation, deforestation and social forestry; Endangered plants, endemism IUCN categories, Red Data Books; Biodiversity and its conservation; Protected Area Network; Convention of Biological Diversity
Farmers’ Rights; and Intellectual Property Rights
Concept of Sustainable Development
Biogeochemical cycles.
Global warming and climatic change
Invasive species
Environmental Impact Assessment; Phytogeographical regions of India.