Lecture Notes on Plant Kingdom

Introduction

• Speaker: Dr. Vipin Kumar Sharma
• Objective: To provide a detailed understanding of the Plant Kingdom chapter to easily tackle questions in the NEET exam.

Key Points

• A brief description of Biological Classification was provided.
• An expanded understanding of plants in the Two Kingdom System of Classification was explained.
• Organisms with cell walls fall under the Plantae Kingdom.
• Early Plants: Blue-green algae, bacteria, etc.

Classification System

1. Artificial System

• Given by: Carolus Linnaeus
• Characters: Vegetative and Reproductive
• Drawbacks: Based on superficial characters

2. Natural System

• Given by: Bentham and Hooker
• Characters: Natural Affinities
• Included Elements: Morphology, Anatomy, Ultra-structure, Embryology, Phytochemistry

3. Phylogenetic System

• Based on evolutionary relationships
• Currently Accepted System

Other Systems

Numerical Taxonomy

• Observational characters are assigned numbers and codes

Cytotaxonomy

• Focus: Number, structure, behavior of chromosomes

Chemotaxonomy

• Focus: Internal chemicals of plants

Categories of Plant Kingdom

Algae

• Thalloid Organization: Absence of true root, stem, leaf
• Pigments: Chlorophyll a, b, c, d
• Reproduction: Fragmentation, zoospores, isogamous, anisogamous, oogamous
• Economic Importance: CO2 fixation, food chain support, hydrocolloids

Bryophytes

• Amphibians of the Plant Kingdom
• Absence of root, stem, leaf
• Reproduction: Presence of antheridium and archegonium

Pteridophytes

• First time vascular tissues
• Presence of true root, stem, leaf
• Life Cycle: Detailed on sporophytes and gametophytes

Gymnosperms

• Seeds are not covered by fruit
• Root System: Taproot
• Coralloid and mycorrhiza applications

Conclusion

• Complete description and classification of the Plant Kingdom
• Detailed discussion on each system and category
• Important points from the perspective of upcoming exams