AGRICULTURAL BOTANY

AGR 3101

The course focuses on:

1.Morphology (external plant structure)

2.Anatomy (internal plant structure)

3.Taxonomy (plant nomenclature, identification and classification)

GROWTH HABITS OF PLANTS

Herb (Herba)

Shrub (Renek) Tree (Berpokok) Climber (Memanjat) Epiphyte (Epifit) Parasite (Parasit)

Saprophyte (Saprofit) Xerophyte

(Zerofit) Mesophyte

(Mesofit) Hydrophyte

(Hidrofit)

HerbA non-woody plant; annual, biennial or perennial; with short-lived above ground organs.

e.g. onion, padi, corn, banana

ShrubA low lying woody perennial, having branches arising from the lower part of the stem.

e.g. chilli, roses, hibiscus

TreeA woody perennial,tall, with a single trunk and produces branches at the upper region. e.g. durian, rambutan, tamarind

ClimberA plant with a long slender stem, produces branches and have specialised organ to cling to a support. e.g. bittergourd, pepper, pumpkin

EpiphyteA plant that grows on another plant but does not absorb food/nutrients from it (non-parasitic). e.g. Vanda orchid

ParasiteA plant that grows on another plant and absorbs food/nutrients from it, to the extent of causing damage and death to the plant

e.g. Loranthus spp.

SaprophyteA plant that lives on decayed material or organic matter rich in nutrients such as in the axils of leaf sheaths of oil palm.

e.g. ferns

XerophyteA plant that lives in a dry habitat or places that lack water.

e.g. cactus and some ferns

MesophyteA plant that lives in a habitat with optimum supply of water; mainly field and horticultural crops of moist tropical and temperate regions.

e.g. rubber, fruit species, forest species Hydrophyte

A plant that lives in water, either floating on the water surface or submerged, or thrives in muddy swamps, rivers and lakes. e.g. water lily, lotus

LIFE SPAN OF PLANTS

Annual (Semusim)

Biennial (Dua musim)

Perennial (Saka)

Annual

A plant that complete its life cycle in one year or less (undergoes vegetative growth, flowers, produces fruits and seeds, and finally dies)

e.g. paddy, wheat, barley

BiennialA plant that complete its life cycle in two years/seasons (undergoes vegetative growth in the first year/season and reproductive growth in the second year/season, and finally dies)

e.g. carrot, radish

PerennialA plant that lives for many years (more than two years), some may reach up to a hundred year. The stem is either woody or herbaceous.

Herbaceous perennial (Saka herba) e.g. banana, ginger, languas

Woody perennial (Saka berkayu) e.g. mangosteen, durian, dokong

MORPHOLOGY OF ANGIOSPERMS

Study on the external structures of higher plants :

Root Stem (Vegetative) Leaf

FlowerFruit (Reproductive)

Seed

Plant Structure

ROOT SYSTEMS

1. Tap root system - Dicotyledons

2. Fibrous root system - Monocotyledons

3. Adventitious root system

Tap root Dicotyledons

Fibrous root Monocotyledons

Tap root

Adventitious rootsFibrous root system

L

Pneumatophores

Climbing roots Prop/stilt roots

Epiphytic roots

Buttress roots

ROOT MODIFICATION

S

Climbing roots Epiphytic roots

Buttress roots

Prop rootsPneumatophores

ROOT MODIFICATION FOR STORAGE

fusiformconical

napiformnapiform tuberous

fascicled

Tisu vaskular

Vascular tissue

Lateral root

Root hairs

Maturation zone

Root cap

Elongation zone

STRUCTURE OF A ROOT TIP