UPPCS Botany Syllabus, Detailed Paper 1 & 2 Syllabus, Topics & Preparation Strategy

UPPCS Botany Syllabus Overview

Organisation

UPPCS (Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission)

Subject

Botany

Paper Structure

Optional Subject (2 papers)

Paper I Topics

- Microbiology and Plant Pathology - Cryptogams (Algae, Fungi, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes) - Gymnosperms and Angiosperms - Taxonomy and Classification - Plant Anatomy and Embryology

Paper II Topics

- Cell Biology and Genetics - Plant Physiology - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Ecology and Environmental Botany - Economic Botany and Ethnobotany - Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering - Plant Breeding and Tissue Culture

Focus Areas

Conceptual understanding, applied knowledge, recent advances, and ecological awareness

Relevance

Useful for agriculture, forestry, and environment-related services in UPPCS

UPSC Botany Syllabus for Paper 1

Topics

Detailed Syllabus

1. Microbiology and Plant Pathology

Structure and reproduction/multiplication of viruses, viroids, 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. Modeling and disease forecasting; Plant quarantine.

2. Cryptogams

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

3. Phanerogams

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 — Magnoliaceae, 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.

4. Plant Resource Development

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

5. Morphogenesis

Totipotency, polarity, symmetry, and differentiation; Cell, tissue, organ, and protoplast culture. Somatic hybrids and cybrids; Micropropagation; Somaclonal variation and its applications; Pollen haploids, embryo rescue methods, and their applications.

UPSC Botany Syllabus for Paper 2

Topic

Detailed Syllabus

1. Cell Biology

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 signaling 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, behavior, and significance.

2. Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution

Development of genetics, and gene versus allele concepts (Pseudoalleles); Quantitative genetics and multiple factors; Incomplete dominance, polygenic inheritance, multiple alleles; Linkage and crossing over; Gene mapping including molecular maps; 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, mechanisms and theories; Role of RNA in origin and evolution.

3. Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics

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 gene transfer; Transgenic crops and biosafety aspects; Molecular markers in plant breeding. Tools and techniques—probe, southern blotting, DNA fingerprinting, PCR, and FISH. Biostatistics: Standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV); Tests of significance (Z-test, t-test, chi-square tests); Probability and distributions (normal, binomial, Poisson); Correlation and regression.

4. Physiology and Biochemistry

Water relations, mineral nutrition and ion transport, mineral deficiencies; Photosynthesis—photochemical reactions, photophosphorylation, and carbon fixation pathways (C3, C4, CAM); Phloem transport mechanism; Respiration—anaerobic and aerobic, fermentation, electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation; Photorespiration; Chemiosmotic theory and ATP synthesis; Lipid metabolism; Nitrogen fixation and metabolism. Enzymes and coenzymes; Energy transfer and conservation; Secondary metabolites; Pigments and photoreceptors (plastidial pigments, phytochrome); Plant movements; Photoperiodism and flowering, vernalization, senescence. Growth substances—chemical nature, role and applications; Growth indices and movements; Stress physiology (heat, water, salinity, metals); Fruit and seed physiology—dormancy, storage, germination; Fruit ripening—molecular basis and manipulation.

5. Ecology and Plant Geography

Ecosystem concepts; Ecological factors; Community dynamics; Plant succession; Biosphere and ecosystem structure; Conservation methods; Pollution and control (including phytoremediation); Plant indicators; Environment (Protection) Act. Forest types in India; Ecological and economic importance of forests; Afforestation, deforestation, social forestry; Endangered plants, endemism, IUCN categories, Red Data Book; Biodiversity and conservation; Protected Area Network; Convention on Biological Diversity; Farmers' Rights and IPRs; Sustainable Development; Biogeochemical cycles; Global warming and climate change; Invasive species; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); Phytogeographical regions of India.