Plant Biochemistry is the Discipline Specific Elective Course of B.Sc. (Honours) Biochemistry Programme (BSCBCH) being offered under UGC-CBCS Scheme. The theory course of Plant Biochemistry (BBCET-151) has a credit weightage worth 4 credits and a separate laboratory course (BBCEL-152) worth 2 credits along with this course.

Plant Biochemistry has emerged and developed as a Discipline Specific Elective subject of Biochemistry with the intent to provide details vis-à-vis plant systems and how it is different from the animal world. Simultaneous advances in the field of agriculture, biotechnology and modern molecular biology techniques have also added to this field. This course aims to provide comprehensive understanding of plant cell structure, their characteristic features, metabolic aspects, as well as applications in tissue culture. Plant biochemistry is not only an important field of basic science explaining the molecular function of a plant, but is also an applied science that contributes to the solution of agricultural and pharmaceutical problems.

This theory course consists of 4 blocks which contain 12 Units. Each block contains three units. Block I deals with the carbon assimilation. Block II is dedicated to respiration. Block III is about nitrogen metabolism and plant growth hormones. Last block, Block IV is about specialised topics in plant biochemistry.

Block 1 on Carbon Assimilation begins with the introduction to plant cell structure with emphasis on plastids and plant pigments. Unit 2 and Unit 3 deal with photosynthesis, light and dark reactions respectively. Photosystems, light harvesting complexes, reaction centre’s and carbon assimilation cycles like C3, C4, CAM is discussed in these two units.

Block 2 on Respiration begins with glycolysis and its regulation. Unit 5 is about TCA cycle and glyoxalate pathway. Unit 6 talks about mitochondrial electron transport, oxidative phosphorylation and other alternative oxidative pathways.

Block 3 on Nitrogen Metabolism and Plant Growth Hormones begins with an introduction to the biological nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen metabolism and assimilatory pathways are discussed in detail in Unit 8. Unit 9 is about plant hormones and their effect on plant growth and development.

Block 4 on Specialised Topics in Plant Biochemistry begins with introduction to secondary metabolites. Different types of secondary metabolites and their functions are discussed in Unit 10. Unit 11 is about plant tissue culture techniques and its applications. Unit 12 deals with different types of abiotic stressors, their impact on plant growth and productivity and how plants deal with them.