TC SIMPLIFIED BIOLOGY

 The Plant Kingdom is a vast and diverse group of organisms that are essential for life on Earth. Here's a detailed explanation of the Plant Kingdom, covering its classification, characteristics, and economic importance. Classification of Plant Kingdom The Plant Kingdom is classified into five main divisions: Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms. *Algae* - *Characteristics:* Algae are simple, non-vascular plants that are mostly aquatic. They have chlorophyll and can photosynthesize. - *Types:* Algae are divided into three main classes: Chlorophyceae (green algae), Phaeophyceae (brown algae), and Rhodophyceae (red algae). - *Economic Importance:* Algae are used as food, fodder, and in the production of agar, carrageenan, and other hydrocolloids. *Bryophytes* - *Characteristics:* Bryophytes are non-vascular plants that are found in damp, shady places. They have a dominant gametophyte phase and produce spores. - *Types:* Bryophytes are divided into three main...

  Fungi are heterotrophic: They cannot produce their own food and obtain nutrients by absorbing them from their surroundings.  Diverse morphology and habitat: Fungi exist in various forms (e.g., mushrooms, yeasts, molds) and live in diverse environments (air, water, soil, on organisms).  Economic importance: Some fungi are beneficial (used in food production, antibiotics), while others are harmful (cause diseases in plants and animals). Examples include:                    * Yeast (used in making bread)                    * Penicillium (source of antibiotics)                    * Puccinia (causes wheat rust)   Structure: Most fungi are multicellular and composed of thread-like structures called hyphae. The network of hyphae is called mycelium.     Some fungi, like yeasts, are unicellular.   Cell wal...

1. KINGDOM PROTISTA All single-celled eukaryotes are placed under Protista, but the boundaries of this kingdom are not well defined. What may be ‘a photosynthetic protistan’ to one biologist may be ‘a plant’ to another. In this book we include Chrysophytes, Dinoflagellates, Euglenoids, Slime moulds and Protozoans under Protista. Members of Protista are primarily aquatic. This kingdom forms a link with the others dealing with plants, animals and fungi. Being eukaryotes, the protistan cell body contains a well defined nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. Some have flagella or cilia. Protists reproduce asexually and sexually by a process involving cell fusion and zygote formation. 1.1 Chrysophytes This group includes diatoms and golden algae (desmids). They are found in fresh water as well as in marine environments. They are microscopic and float passively in water currents (plankton). Most of them are photosynthetic. In diatoms the cell walls form two thin overlapping shells, whi...