Calyx in plants merely refers to a sterile outermost whorl or non-reproductive structure, which constitutes perianth. A group of sepals unitedly forms a calyx. Thus, sepals are nothing but the modified leaves, which account for forming the flower’s outermost whorl. It can be regular or irregular in size and shape, and the number may also …
Phytochrome in plants exists as a soluble protein pigment, which carries out photomorphogenic growth. It is present almost in all eukaryotic plants and first discovered by a scientist named Sterling Hendricks and Herry Borthwick in 1940-1960. Warren Butler gave the term phytochrome. In 1983, Peter and Clark were the two scientists who introduced chemical purification …
Photoperiodism merely refers to the potential of the plant to incite flowering relative to the changes in the photoperiod. Thus, photoperiod is a light duration or the length of day and night, while photoperiodism is the effect of light duration on the plant’s growth. Depending upon the photoperiodic effect on flowering, the plants are grouped …
Vernalization refers to the process of growing flowers and fruits through a phase of cold treatment. It reduces the time period of the juvenile vegetative growth phase in the plants. The active meristematic cells of the shoot apex, root apex, embryo tips etc., participate in the production of stimulus (Vernalin). The term vernalization has been …
Collenchyma tissue is a term given by a scientist named Schleiden in the year 1839. It is a kind of simple permanent supportive tissue that confers mechanical strength to the plant. The collenchyma cells appear as elongated cells with a non-uniform thickened cell wall. Collenchymatous cells originate by the modification of parenchyma tissues into the …
Penicillium is a genus consisting of a group of fungi, which include 354 accepted species. Some Penicillium species are considered doctor fungus as some of the members produce antibiotics, which can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Penicillium species are ubiquitous, where many produce potential mycotoxins, few produce medically useful antibiotics, and some are important …
Mendelian inheritance is an approach that explains the traits or characters inherit from one generation to another by the discrete units or genes. “Mendelism” or Mendelian inheritance was introduced by the Austrian monk Gregor Johann Mendel. Sir Mendel has honoured as “Father of Genetics” for his great efforts to explain the theory of inheritance that …
Phloem is a complex tissue of a plant, first introduced by a scientist Nageli in 1853. It is a part of the plant’s vascular system that involves the translocation of organic molecules from the leaves to the different parts of plants like stem, flowers, fruits and roots. Numerous specialized tissues (vascular tissues) contribute to a …
The ovule is a part of a plant that is popularly known as megasporangium. It is present inside the ovary base, which extends and gives rise to the stalk-like structure called style and finally opens into the stigma. Megasporangium can be defined as a large, sac-like structure, which gives rise to the production of the megaspores …
Phototropism in plants is a process where a plant bends in response to sunlight or any other light source. Plants sense light stimuli through their photoreceptors proteins. These specialized protein molecules or photoreceptors form a complex with the light-absorbing pigment (chromophore). When a chromophore absorbs light radiations, it brings changes in the photoreceptors’ structural configuration …