[TRANS] Introduction to Plant Science

o Types of Metabolic Reaction:

○ Anabolic reaction/ anabolism –
OUTLINE process of converting simple inorganic
I. Concepts molecules to complex organic
A. Definition of plant molecules
i. True or False ○ Catabolic reaction/ catabolism –
B. Importance of Plants process of converting complex organic
C. Adaptation and Survival of Plants molecules to simple inorganic
II. Scientific Method molecules
III. Unifying Concepts to Understand Plants
2. Blue-greens (Bacteria), red algae (Protist),
IV.Branches of Plant Science brown algae (Algin), green algae are plants.
V. Ten DOH-approved Medicinal Plants False
○ Blue-greens are bacterias
○ Red algae, brown algae, and green
algae and protists
○ Brown algae is a polysaccharide that
CONCEPTS contains Algin used to prevent the
● Botany (Plant Biology) - the scientific study of formation of ice crystals.
plants
● What is a Plant? 3. Fungi (including “water molds”) are never
o Most plants have green leaves, stems, green, different tissues/physiology from
roots, and flowers plants. True
o Conifers have cones rather than
flower 4. Bacteria were once considered as plants.
o Cacti (spikes) and succulents (thorns True
and spikes) have leaves ○ Bacterias belonged to Kingdom
o Ferns (have roots, stems, and leaves) Plantae
and mosses but no flowers ○ Kingdom Bacteria is divided into two:
o Bryophytes are non-vascular plant (1) Eubacteria, and (2)
such as mosses; least in common of Archaebacteria.
all terrestrial plants; no roots
● True or False Why are plants important?
1. All photosynthetic organisms are plants. False ● Oxygen
○ Not all photosynthetic organisms are ● Plants are primary producers in the food chain
plants. ● Economically important to humans
○ Photosynthesis – process of o Agricultural plants (e.g. Corn, Wheat,
manufacturing food through sunlight. Tomato, Potato)
○ 𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐻2𝑂 → 𝐶6 𝐻12𝑂6 o Flavoring plants (e.g. Laurel,
Peppermint, Basil, Turmeric, Vanilla)
○ Carbon dioxide + water + chlorophyll o Euphoric/hallucinogenic plants (e.g.
and sunlight will yield to glucose Marijuana, Tobacco, Opium Puppy
○ 𝐶6𝐻12𝑂6→ glucose (monosaccharide) o Fiber/wood plants
○ Glucose undergoes polymerization to o Medical plants (e.g. Lagundi,
produce Disaccharides, Bayabas, Insulin plant)
Trisaccharides, and Polysaccharides ● Agriculture - became a foundation for human
○ Only plants containing chlorophyll can civilization, development of culture, art and
undergo photosynthesis government.
o Photosynthesis is an Anabolic Reaction
 ● Plants are our fundamental source of food of leaves make cacti unable to
● Many medicines come from plants undergo photosynthesis; instead
o The Cinchona tree and quinine stems are green and are the ones to
• Quinine – treatment of undergo photosynthesis
malaria
o Aloe Vera – alopecia Conservation Biology
o Lavender – aromatherapy
o Garlic – antihypertensive ● Critical area for research.
o Pansit-pansitan – arthritis ● Prevents extinction of species
o Oregano – coughs & wounds
o Tawa-tawa – treatment of dengue Biotechnology
● Many flavors come from plants i.e., volatile oils,
glycosides ● Seeks to develop new plant products.
● Plants provide fuel, shelter, and paper products. ● The creation of genetically modified plants.
o Green jet fuel made from Jatropha ● Ex. Using plants to modify animal response. A
(poisonous fruit) plant. study of this animal’s high tolerance for chilies
● Types of Oils may yield information that will help humans
o Olive oil - Anti-inflammatory control pain.
o Sunflower oil
o Wintergreen oil - Methyl Salicylic Acid Top 10 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
(Katinko, white flower)
1. Biofortified soya beans – pest resistance
o Lavender oil - aromatherapy
2. Edible cotton seeds
o Coconut oil – extracted from meat and
a. Cotton seeds – source of fiber for
juice of coconut (endosperm)
manufacturing clothes; contains
important cellulose material
Adaptation and Survival of Plants
3. Jatropha – biofuel
Natural Selection 4. Golden Rice – increases Beta Carotene
● Species having specific features caused them (anti-oxidant) which is good for the eyesight
to adapt and reproduce and pass these 5. Flood Resistant Rice
features to their offspring. 6. Sugar beets – weed resistant; contains
● Det w/c features are eliminated and passed sucrose and can be an alternative to sugar
into the next generation. cane
7. Yeast – fungi; feed on agricultural waste and
● Plant species have the ability to adapt to
excrete crude oil
harsh conditions.
8. Cassava - Biocassava plus - vitamins,
● Examples:
proteins, virus resistant; source of starch,
○ During winter, leaves are dropped in bulking material for tablet production
autumn, bark formation on the stem 9. Papaya - pest resistant; lessen libido
decreases surface area, decreases 10. Castor beans
water loss, a. Biologic function is the formation of
○ Bulbs, corns, tubers persist and laxatives (stimulate bowel movement);
produce new shoot during spring b. Blocks ricin production; increase
○ Cutinized leaves/stems of evergreens castor oil w/c used as lubricant in
prevent water loss shampoo
○ Venus Fly Trap captures insects for c. If ricin is consumed, it needs to be
food in order to survive released immediately
○ Cactus – thrive in hot and arid
environment; leaves are turned into
spines/thorns to conserve water; loss
 Plant Characteristics and Diversity i. Sexual reproduction – there is
a production of gametes (egg
● There are around 325,000 recognized plant
and sperm cells)
species
ii. Microscopic
○ If a plant has a scientific name, then it
iii. Haploid (N) – contains only
is an identified/recognized plant
one set of chromosomes,
○ If a plant has no scientific name, it
either from the maternal or
hasn’t been discovered/recognized yet
paternal
Five Characteristics unifying plants:
1. Multicellular eukaryote
A. Pistil (♀)
○ Multicellular – many cells
i. Contains style, stigma and ovary
○ Eukaryote – contains
ii. In the ovary, the egg is produced
membrane-bound organelles (MBOs)
and the immature egg is called an
2. Photosynthesis
ovule, which then becomes the seed
○ Plants can undergo photosynthesis
iii. Female gametophyte – Embryo
○ Carbon dioxide + water + solar energy
Sac
→ Sugars (glucose) + oxygen +
waters
B. Stamen (♂)
○ Green plants are photosynthetic
i. Male part of the flower
because they contain chlorophyll
ii. Male gametophyte – Pollen grain
○ Plants without chlorophyll: Rafflesia
and Mistletoe
C. Pollination (N) – Transfer of pollen
3. Cell wall
grain
○ Made of cellulose (glucose)
○ One of the junk products of
D. Fertilization (N) – Union of egg and
photosynthesis
sperm cells
○ Cell wall is what differentiates animals
○ N + N = 2N (Zygote) → Fertilized egg
and plants from each other.
○ 2N (Embryo) → Further develop under
i. Bacteria/fungi have cell wall
mitosis
but different chemical
compositions
5. Embryo protected within mother plant
4. Two adult forms
○ Mother plant → Embryo Sac
In some plants, adult forms are separate; in
others, they are attached.
The 5 Kingdom System of Classification
○ Sporophyte - adult form that
produces spores (i.e. roots, stems,
leaves, flowers, fruits)
Monera (Bacteria)
i. Asexual reproduction – no
production of gametes Cell type Prokaryotic; single-celled but
ii. Macroscopic many forms
iii. Diploid (2N) – contains two
Cell wall Do not contain cellulose
sets of chromosomes, both of
the maternal and paternal Mode of Various; some photosynthetic
○ Gametophyte - adult form that nutrition autotrophs (produce their own
produces egg and sperm (i.e. Flowers; food)
Pistil and Stamen)
Reproduction Mostly asexual (do not produce
egg and sperm cell); Amitotic
 Growth Indeterminate Growth Indeterminate and determinate

Protista (Algae)
Animalia
Cell type Eukaryotic: single-celled,
multicellular Cell type Eukaryotic; multicellular

Cell wall Cell walls of some species Cell wall No cell wall
contain cellulose
Mode of Heterotrophs that ingest food
Mode of Photosynthetic autotrophs nutrition
nutrition
Reproduction Mostly sexual (some asexual);
Reproduction Sexual and asexual; some embryo is protected within
species have two adult forms: female parent (in some
one that produces spores species, mostly mammals)
(sporophyte) and one that
produces eggs and sperm Growth Determinate
(gametophyte)

Growth Indeterminate or determinate Additional Notes:

● Kingdom Bacteria is divided into Eubacteria
and Archaebacteria
Plantae ● Example:
○ Eubacteria – Lactobacillus,
Cell type Eukaryotic; multicellular
Cyanobacteria
Cell wall Cell walls composed mainly of ○ Archaebacteria – live in hot, acidic
cellulose environment (Thermophiles,
acidophiles)
Mode of Photosynthetic autotrophs ● Bacteria (Chromosome of a prokaryote)
nutrition
○ DNA - Naked DNA (Plasmids)
Reproduction Sexual and asexual; two adult ○ Scattered throughout
forms: one that produces ○ Amitotic – cannot undergo mitosis due
spores (sporophyte) and one to the absence of a nucleus
that produces eggs and sperm ● Chromosome of a eukaryote
(gametophyte); embryo ○ DNA - Nucleus + Histones
protected within female parent
○ Undergo Mitosis – due to presence of
Growth Indeterminate or determinate nucleus
Prokaryotes
● Have no nuclei
Fungi ● Ex. Bacteria, Cyanobacteria, Kingdom Monera

Cell type Eukaryotic; multicellular Eukaryotes

● Have nuclei & membrane-bound organelles
Cell wall Cell walls composed mainly of
chitin ● DNA is inside the nucleus + histones
● Membrane-bound organelles (MBOs)
Mode of Heterotrophs that absorbs a. Nucleus
nutrition food b. Mitochondria
c. Lysosome
Reproduction Sexual and asexual d. Peroxisome
 e. Endoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth and outcome of future observations or
Rough) experiments
f. Vacuole ● All accepted information can be derived from
g. Dictyosomes/Golgi Apparatus/ Golgi documented and controlled experiments
Body
RELIGIOUS METHOD
Protista/Plantae
● With Chloroplast ● Universe is assumed to be created by or to
contain deities
Fungi/Animalia ● Important feature is that the actions of gods
● Without chloroplasts cannot be studied
● Crops might flourish or fail due to god’s
The 4 Groups of Plants intervention to reward or punish people
1. Bryophytes ● Faith is a fundamental principle of religion
● Non vascular, small, non-flowering,
seedless (spores instead) METAPHYSICAL SYSTEM
Ex. Mosses, liverworts, hornworts ● In addition to natural forces, there are
supernatural , hidden forces that can never
2. Pteridophytes be observed or studied.
● Vascular, macroscopic, non-flowering, Ex.
seedless (spores) ○ luck
Ex. Ferns (largest group of seedless vascular ○ bad omens
plants), allies ○ accurate horoscopes
○ reliable method for picking the winning
3. Angiosperms numbers in a lottery
● The largest group of modern day
plants SPECULATIVE PHILOSOPHY
● Vascular, flowering, seed bearing plant
● Monocotyledon – inside fruit wall (ex. ● Started with Greek philosophers
coconut) ● Sought to develop logical explanations for
● Dicotyledon – peanut simple observations.
4. Gymnosperm ● Philosophical postulations by Democritus
● Vascular, seed-producing plants, (400 BC)
non-flowering ● Atom - smallest unit
● Cones (naked seeds or exposed) ● No verification, no experiments were done
Ex. Conifers (most gymnosperms are
conifers) UNIFYING CONCEPTS TO UNDERSTAND
PLANTS
1st Concept
SCIENTIFIC METHOD (1400s) ● Plant metabolism is based on the principles of
● Sir Francis Bacon was a firm believer in the chemistry and physics
power of experimentation and the scientific ● Metabolism - Totality of all biological process
method to uncover truth taking place in an organism
● A means of analyzing the physical universe ○ Two types of Metabolism
● Observations are used as the basis for ■ Anabolic - Build complex
constructing a hypothesis that predicts the molecules from simpler
organic compounds
 ■ Catabolic - Breaking down of PROPERTIES PRESENT IN LIVING THINGS
complex molecules into
simpler ones All living beings have the following characteristics (5);
if even one is missing, the material is not alive
2nd Concept
● Plants must have means of storing and using 1. Metabolism
information 2. Non-random organization
● Genes – means of storing information a. Mixture of different biological
macromolecules
3rd Concept 3. Growth
● Plants reproduce, passing their genes and 4. Heredity and reproduction
5. Capacity to respond to the environment
information on their offspring
In addition, to the 5 characteristics:
4th Concept
● Develop ( young and adult ones have
● Genes, and the information they contain,
distinctive characateristics)
change
● Evolve ( changing with time as environment
● Mutations may occur and may affect the changes)
gene, causing change
● Gradual evolution (mutants) PLANT SYSTEMATICS
● Variation may occur in certain species ● Evolutionary history of plants

5th Concept Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778)

● Plants must survive in their own environment ● Father of Taxonomy
● His system for naming, ranking, and
6th Concept classifying organisms is still in wide use today
● Plants are highly integrated organisms (with many changes).
● Structure and metabolism of 1 part have
Species Name
impact on other parts of the plant
By convention:
7th Concept
● first word of binomial name is genus and is
● An individual plant is the temporary result of
always capitalized
genes and environment interactions ● second word refers to specific epithet and is
● Plants interact with environment not capitalized
● Absorbs nutrients, attract pollinator. ● together form scientific name, written in italics
reproduce. resist pathogen ● a complete scientific name includes the
author's name.
8th Concept
Ex.
● Plants do not have purpose (teleology) nor
decision-making (anthropomorphism) Nepenthes madagascariensis Poir.
capacity.
Tinospora rumphii Boerl.
Which of the two statements is correct?
The Taxonomic Hierarchy
1. Plants have roots in order to absorb water
and minerals. Incorrect because it contradicts ● Species
the 8th concept ● Genus
2. Plants’ roots absorb water and mineral salts. ● Family
Correct ● Order
● Class
● Phylum
 ● Kingdom ● Plant ecology – plants relate to the
● Domain environment, human effects to increased rate
of plant extinction
Taxonomic Classification
● Plant genetics – transfer of genetic
The taxonomic classification below was taken from information from one generation to the next
Merril (1972)
Botanist also study:
● Written in slanting position
● Algae (Phycology)
● Fungi (Mycology)
● Disease-causing microorganisms
(Microbiology)
● Ornamental plants (Horticulture)
● Important plant compounds
(Phytochemistry)

e.g. papain in papaya, momordicin in

ampalaya, beta carotene in tomato, capsaicin
in chilies, nicotine in tobacco, caffeine in
coffee, ginkgolides in ginkgo, resins in pines,
latex in rubber tree

● Traditional uses of plants (Herbal medicine

THE KINGDOMS OF LIFE and Ethnobotany)
● Forest and products (Forestry)
● Most biologist use a six-kingdom system
● Crops and soil management (Agriculture)
○ Animalia
● Fruit trees (Pomology)
○ Plantae
○ Fungi 10 PHILIPPINE MEDICINAL PLANTS (APPROVED
○ Protista BY DOH)
○ Archaebacteria
○ Bacteria
● Domains - Taxonomic level above kingdoms Vernacular Scientific Family Use or
Name Name Function

Lagundi Vitex Lamiaceae Cough

negundo preparation,
Ascof

Sambong Blumea Asteraceae Diuretic &

balsamifera Anti-urolithia
CLASSIFYING LIVING ORGANISMS sis

● Plant Physiology – aspects such as Bayabas Psidium Myrtaceae Astringent

photosynthesis, flowering and hormones guajava
● Plant anatomy – relation of structure to Ampalaya/ Momordica Cucurbitaceae Anti-diabetes
functions Bitter charantia mellitus
● Paleobotany – evolutionary relationship of Gourd supplement
fossil plants to living plants
Tsaang- Carmona Boraginaceae Stomachic
● Plant morphology – plant life forms, gubat retusa
evolution of plants (Ehretia
microphylla)
Ulasimang Peperomia Piperaceae Lowers uric
bato pellucida acid in gout

Yerba Mentha Lamiaceae Analgesic,

Buena cordifolia antipyretic

Bawang Allium Alliaceae Antihyperten

sativum sive

Niyog- Quisqualis Combretaceae Anthelmintic

niyogan indica

Akapulko Cassia Fabaceae Antifungal

(“Ringwor alata
m bush”)