UPSC Optional Subject Syllabus: Botany | Botany Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Microbiology and Plant Pathology

• Structure and reproduction/multiplication of viruses, viroids, bacteria, fungi, and mycoplasma
• Applications of microbiology in agriculture, industry, medicine, and 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/defence
• Physiology of parasitism and control measures
• Fungal toxins
• Modelling and disease forecasting
• Plant quarantine

Cryptogams

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

Phanerogams

• Gymnosperms:
  • Concept of Progymnosperms
  • Classification and distribution of gymnosperms
  • Salient features of Cycadales, Ginkgoales, Coniferales, and Gnetales: structure and reproduction
  • General account of Cycadofilicales, Bennettitales, and Cordaitales
  • Geological time scale
  • Types 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 angiospermic 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: development and function
  • Patterns of embryo development
  • Polyembryony, apomixis
  • Applications of palynology
  • Experimental embryology: pollen storage, test-tube fertilization

Plant Resource Development

• 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 the Indian context
• Energy plantations
• Botanical Gardens and Herbaria

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

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, 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

Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Evolution

• Development of genetics, 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 (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, mechanisms, and theories
• Role of RNA in origin and evolution

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 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, FISH
• Standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV)
• Tests of significance: Z-test, t-test, chi-square test
• Probability and distributions: normal, binomial, Poisson
• Correlation and regression

Physiology and Biochemistry

• Water relations, mineral nutrition, and ion transport, mineral deficiencies
• Photosynthesis: photochemical reactions, photophosphorylation, carbon fixation pathways
• C3, C4, and CAM pathways
• Mechanism of phloem transport
• Respiration (anaerobic and aerobic, including fermentation): electron transport chain, 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, 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: molecular basis and manipulation

Ecology and Plant Geography

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

Recommended Resources

• Microbiology and Plant Pathology: "Microbiology" by Pelczar, "Plant Pathology" by R.S. Singh, Microbiology and Plant Pathology Notes
• Cryptogams: "Cryptogamic Botany" by G.M. Smith, Cryptogams Notes
• Phanerogams: "Taxonomy of Angiosperms" by B.P. Pandey, "Gymnosperms" by S.P. Bhatnagar, Phanerogams Notes
• Plant Resource Development: "Economic Botany" by B.P. Pandey, Plant Resource Development Notes
• Morphogenesis: "Plant Tissue Culture" by M.K. Razdan, Morphogenesis Notes
• Cell Biology: "Cell Biology" by De Robertis, Cell Biology Notes
• Genetics and Molecular Biology: "Genetics" by P.K. Gupta, "Molecular Biology" by Watson, Genetics, Molecular Biology Notes
• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology: "Plant Breeding" by B.D. Singh, Plant Breeding, Biotechnology Notes
• Physiology and Biochemistry: "Plant Physiology" by Taiz & Zeiger, Physiology and Biochemistry Notes
• Ecology: "Ecology and Environment" by P.D. Sharma, Ecology and Plant Geography Notes
• Supplementary: NCERT Biology (Class 11-12), Past Year Papers (Paper I, Paper II), Previous Year Questions with Solutions (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)
• Preparation Guide: How to Prepare for Botany Optional?

Preparation Strategy

• Understand the Syllabus: Review Paper I and II syllabi to prioritize high-weightage topics like Microbiology, Angiosperms, and Genetics. Refer to Paper I and Paper II.
• Focus on Diagrams: Practice drawing life cycles, cell structures, and anatomical diagrams to enhance answers.
• Link with Current Affairs: Relate topics like ecology and biotechnology to recent environmental policies and innovations.
• Answer Writing Practice: Write concise, diagram-supported answers with clear introductions and conclusions. Join test series for feedback.
• Revise Previous Year Questions: Analyze papers from 2019-2024 to identify trends and key areas. Access via Previous Year Questions.
• Make Notes: Create concise notes for quick revision, focusing on scientific terms, processes, and applications.