Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology

Botany is a biological science involving the study of plants. Plants are distinctive in manipulating energy from the sunlight alongside other chemical elements for growth. This process of photosynthesis supplies food and energy necessary for life on earth. Because of the vast botanical research interests, several plant biologists are working in different domains to exploit botany for the benefits of living being. Some biologists centralize on the whole plant pattern. Some study the plant structure and organization. Many biologists are curious in unveiling the mechanism behind conversion of simple chemical compounds to more complex chemicals by plants. Some botanists combine plant biology with ecology by studying the interconnection of plants with other life forms and the habitat. Some even deal with the plants hereditary transmission and variation. The botanical research outcomes ameliorate living being and environment in several ways. They expand our supply of foods, medicines, fibres, building materials and other plant products. Botanical knowledge helps people to maintain trees, flowering plants, forests, parks, lands etc thus contributing towards a healthy environment. In the preparation of this book, several research studies are collated with the hope that they will aid the student in understanding the basics as well as the applications of botany. The first chapter accounts the Introduction and basics of botany. In Chapters 2-4, the structure and organization of plants is discussed. Plant physiology and development is explored in the following four chapters. Chapters 9-11 describe the plant metabolism. Plant regulation is presented in chapters 12-14. Study of the interaction of plants with other organisms and the environment is reported in chapters 15-18. Genetics and genetic engineering of the plants is talked about in the following two chapters. In the last chapter, light is thrown on the application part of botany. I anticipate that this book will prove to be convenient for teaching, learning and research.