PB 200 Exam 1 Master Study Guide - Vocabulary Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering botany terminology, plant classification, cell structure, macromolecules, histology, tissue systems, seed anatomy, germination, and primary growth from PB 200 Exam 1 Master Study Guide.

Systematics

Study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Taxonomy

Classification and naming of organisms.

Phyto-

Root meaning plant; e.g., phytochemical, phytopathology.

Genus

The first word in a scientific binomial name (e.g., Acer in Acer rubrum).

Specific epithet

The second word in a scientific binomial name (e.g., rubrum in Acer rubrum).

Authority

The person credited with describing a species in binomial nomenclature (e.g., L. in Acer rubrum L.).

Angiosperms

Vascular seed plants characterized by flowers and seeds associated with fruits.

Gymnosperms

Vascular seed plants characterized by naked seeds, with cones common in conifers.

Seed-free vascular plants

Plants with conducting tissue but no seeds, reproducing via spores.

Bryophytes

Non-vascular plants lacking both seeds and vascular tissue, remaining relatively small and reproducing via spores.

Tree

Tall perennial woody plant, usually with one dominant trunk.

Shrub

Short perennial woody plant, usually with several stems near the ground.

Vine

Woody or herbaceous plant that requires another object for support.

Herb

Non-woody plant with stems that are usually fleshy or flexible.

Deciduous

Plant that loses most or all of its leaves seasonally.

Evergreen

Plant whose leaves persist longer than one year.

Native

Naturally occurring plant; not introduced by humans.

Non-native / exotic

Plant introduced by humans.

Naturalized

A non-native plant species that becomes established in the natural landscape.

Horticultural introduction

Human-manipulated plant form created by breeding, hybridization, grafting, etc.

Herbarium

Facility that preserves, catalogs, and stores plant specimens for identification, teaching, and research (plural: herbaria).

Voucher specimen

A preserved reference specimen documenting a plant identification.

Essential element

An element required for a plant to complete its life cycle normally.

Macronutrient

Essential element required in relatively large amounts.

Micronutrient

Essential element required in relatively small amounts, but equally essential as macronutrients.

Cohesion

Tendency of water molecules to stick to one another via hydrogen bonds, allowing continuous bulk flow.

Sucrose

Disaccharide composed of glucose + fructose; the major transported sugar in plants.

Maltose

Disaccharide composed of glucose + glucose; appears as stored starch is broken down during germination.

Starch

Primary carbohydrate energy-storage molecule in plants made of glucose.

Amylose

Unbranched component of starch.

Amylopectin

Branched component of starch.

Pectin

Branched, glue-like carbohydrate associated with material between cell walls.

Cellulose

Long linear glucose chains forming the major structural component of plant cell walls.

Saturated fatty acid

Fatty acid with no carbon-carbon double bond in the emphasized chain, packing more tightly.

Monounsaturated fatty acid

Fatty acid containing one carbon-carbon double bond.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

Fatty acid containing more than one carbon-carbon double bond.

1 calorie

Heat required to raise $1\,\text{mL}$ water by $1^\circ\text{C}$.

1 Calorie

Equals $1,000\text{ calories}$ or $1\text{ kilocalorie (kcal)}$.

Bradford assay

Laboratory test used to detect proteins.

I2KI

Stain used to detect starch grains, producing a blue/black positive result.

Phloroglucinol/HCl

Stain used to detect lignified plant cell walls, producing a reddish-pink positive result.

Sudan IV

Stain used to detect lipids, producing a light red/pink positive result.

Methylene blue

Stain used to detect general cellular structures, producing a blue positive result.

Hand lens

Magnifying device best for field work and surface features, typically with fixed $10\times$ magnification.

Stereomicroscope / dissecting microscope

Magnifying device best for surface features and intact specimens, offering variable low magnification and larger working distance.

Compound light microscope

Magnifying device best for internal anatomy, tissues, and cells at greater magnification.

Working distance

Distance between the specimen and the objective lens.

Proplastid

Undifferentiated precursor to specialized plastids.

Chloroplast

Plastid responsible for photosynthesis.

Chromoplast

Plastid responsible for pigment storage.

Leucoplast

Plastid responsible for macromolecule storage.

Amyloplast

Plastid responsible for starch storage and gravity sensing in roots.

Primary cell wall

Expandable cell wall formed early by all plant cells, composed primarily of cellulose.

Secondary cell wall

Hard, rigid cell wall deposited later inside the primary wall in only some cells, composed of cellulose and often substantial lignin.

Middle lamella

Pectin-rich material between neighboring cells that helps hold cells together.

Plasmodesmata

Cytoplasmic connections between living cells providing selective transport and communication.

Pits

Wall pathways important in cell-to-cell transport in cells such as mature xylem conducting cells.

Parenchyma

Simple tissue alive at maturity with thin primary walls, responsible for storage, photosynthesis, and lateral transport.

Collenchyma

Simple tissue alive at maturity with unevenly thickened primary walls, providing flexible structural support near the surface.

Sclerenchyma

Simple tissue dead at maturity with thick lignified secondary walls, providing strong support and defense.

Cuticle

Waxy protective layer on the epidermis that helps reduce water loss.

Guard cells

Specialized epidermal cells controlling the opening and closing of a stoma.

Stoma

Microscopic pore or opening located between a pair of guard cells.

Trichomes

Modified epidermal cells functioning in defense, secretion, wind protection, and water loss reduction.

Vessel element

Dead, wider xylem conducting cell with perforation plates, arranged end-to-end to form vessels.

Tracheid

Dead, narrower, elongated xylem conducting cell with water movement occurring mainly through pits.

Sieve tube element

Living phloem transport cell lacking a nucleus at maturity, responsible for major sugar transport.

Companion cell

Living, nucleated phloem cell that supports and controls sieve tube element function.

Cortex

Ground tissue between dermal and vascular tissues in roots and stems, functioning in storage and support.

Pith

Ground tissue in the central region of some stems and roots, mainly functioning in storage.

Mesophyll

Leaf interior ground tissue that serves as the major photosynthetic tissue.

Seed coat

Protective outer layer of a seed.

Embryo

Young plant body within a seed, containing an embryonic axis and cotyledon(s).

Endosperm

Nutrient-rich storage tissue in angiosperm seeds.

Radicle

Young embryonic root that develops into the root system.

Plumule

Young embryonic shoot/first true leaves.

Epicotyl

Stem portion above the cotyledonary node.

Hypocotyl

Stem portion below the cotyledonary node.

Cotyledon

Seed leaf that can serve as a major nutrient-storage structure.

Hilum

Scar or attachment region on a seed.

Micropyle

Small opening shown on bean-seed diagrams.

Epigeal germination

Germination type in which the hypocotyl elongates, pushing cotyledons above ground.

Hypogeal germination

Germination type in which the epicotyl elongates while cotyledons remain at or below ground.

Dormancy

Period of very low activity/developmental arrest in a living seed prior to germination.

Germination

Initiation of embryonic growth and emergence of root and shoot.

Imbibition

Absorption of water by a seed, causing swelling and enabling metabolism and cell expansion.

Stratification

Cold exposure used by some species as a germination cue.

Scarification

Seed-coat damage/abrasion allowing water entry more readily.

Primary growth

Extension or initiation of plant organs, such as shoot/root lengthening and branch formation.

Protoderm

Primary meristem that becomes the dermal tissue system.

Procambium

Primary meristem that becomes the vascular tissue system.

Ground meristem

Primary meristem that becomes the ground tissue system.

Intercalary meristem

Meristem occurring near the base of an organ/region (e.g., in grasses) that contributes to primary growth and regrowth.