Prop roots Vs Stilt roots

1.Prop roots develop from the upper horizontal branches of the tree whereas stilt roots develop from the basal node of the plant stem.

2. Prop roots grow vertically whereas the stilt roots grow obliquely from the basal node.

3. Prop roots give support like a pillar whereas stilt roots work like ropes of a tent.

4. Young prop roots are hygroscopic whereas young stilt roots are not hygroscopic.

Prop roots are found in banyan whereas stilt roots are found in maize and sugarcane.

By: Ashwani Kumar,
biology teacher ,Phagwara

Difference between Tap root system and Adventitious root system

1.Tap root system arises from radicle of the embryo whereas the adventitious roots arise from any part of the plant body other than radical or its branches .They can arise from stem, leaves etc.

2.In tap root system there is single main root called tap root which bears branches in an acropetal manner .In adventitious roots there are number of equally strong fibrous roots present in clusters.

3.Tap root system is underground whereas adventitious roots may be underground or aerial.

4.In tap root system the primary root or tap root  persists throughout life of plant. In adventitious root system the primary root is short lived and is replaced by adventitious roots.

5.Tap root system may be deep feeder or surface feeder whereas adventitious root system is mostly surface feeder.

By: Ashwani Kumar,

Biology teacher,Phagwara

Difference between Respiratory roots and Assimilatory roots roots

1. Respiratory roots occur in plants growing in marshy areas whereas assimilatory roots occurs in plants growing in terrestrial and aquatic habitat and even in epiphytic plants.

2. Respiratory roots are non green
hence do not perform photosynthesis. Assimilatory roots are green and perform photosynthesis.

3. Respiratory roots are negatively geotropic . Assimilatory roots are diageotropic ,which means they tend to grow horizontal to the line of gravity .They may be plagio-geotropic which means they tend to grow at an angle oblique angle to the line of gravity.

4. Respiratory roots have covering of cork whereas assimilatory roots lack the covering of cork.

5.Respiratory roots have lenticels for gaseous exchange. Assimilatory roots lack lenticels. The gaseous exchange occurs through the general surface of roots.

6. Respiratory roots are modifications of tap root system whereas assimilatory roots are a type of adventitious roots.

By: Ashwani Kumar,
Biology teacher,Phagwara .

Differences between Gymnosperms and Angiosperms

1.The gymnosperms usually are not herbaceous, whereas, majority of angiosperms are herbaceous.

2. The gymnosperms are perennial whereas angiosperms may be annual biennial or perennial.

3. In gymnosperms the reproductive structures are cones which are unisexual, whereas, in angiosperms the reproductive structures are flowers which may be unisexual or bisexual.

4. In gymnosperms, during pollination the pollen grains fall on the micropyle , whereas in angiosperms they fall on the stigma.

5. In gymnosperms the pollination is  mainly occurs through anemophily whereas in angiosperms the pollination may occur through anemophily, entomophily ,hydrophily also .

6.Ovules are naked in gymnosperms ,whereas, they are protected in ovaries or carpels in angiosperms.

7. in gymnosperms the archegonia are present in female gametophyte, whereas, angiosperms lack archegonia.

8. In gymnosperms there is no double fertilization, only single fertilization occurs ,whereas, in angiosperms double fertilization occur.

9.Cleavage polyembryony is common in gymnosperms where is it is absent in angiosperms.

10. In gymnosperms zygote undergoes free nuclear division where is zygote of angiosperms does not divide by free nuclear division .

11.Vegetative reproduction is rare in gymnosperms, whereas, it is very common in angiosperms.

Dinoflagellates and Red Tides

Dinoflagellates are unicellular, eukaryotic organisms.most of the species are marine.some are found in freshwater.size ranges from 15 to 40microns.A species Noctiluca is larger ,can have size around 2mm.they have two flagella which help them to swim.their chromosomes are in highly condensed form.they have large quantity of DNA.although they are eukaryotes but they don't have histones.many dinoflagellates are photosynthetic.all are not photosynthetic.some dinoflagellates are symbiotic and live in marine invertebrates like sponges,corals,jellyfish etc some live within ciliates,foraminiferans and radiolarians.the non photosynthetic species are heterotrophic.they feed on other planktond or even on each other .noctiluca can even feed on fish eggs.several species of dinoflageyshow bioluminescence. dinoflagellates are second producers after diatoms in aquatic ecosystem. many genera of dinoflagellates cause red tide.these include Gonyaulax, Karenia ,Gymnodinium ,Dinophysis, Noctiluca, Chattonella,Amoebophyra.these contain photosynthetic pigments whose colour varies from brown to red. some red tides are bioluminescent.in addition to dinoflagellates red tides also contain diatoms.some red tides are harmful .some species of dinoflagellates causing red tides produce toxins which cause death of fishes. human can get affected by eating shell fish caught from water having red tide recently. shell fish feeds on dinoflagellates and eating toxic dinoflagellates in large amount during red tide cause accumulation of toxin inshell fish.eating such fish can cause serious health problems to man.

By: Ashwani,Biology Teacher,Phagwara.