UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

BSc. II HONOURS BIOCHEMISTRY

PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY: HBC 206

DECEMBER 2014

2 HOURS

Answer any FOUR out of the following SIX questions. The answer to each question is
worth 25 marks.
________________________________________________________________________

1. Compare and contrast biotic and abiotic stress in plants. [25 marks]

2.
(a) Describe the Calvin cycle and the experiment carried out by Melvin Calvin that
led to our understanding of this cycle. [15 marks]

(b) Describe the differences between C3 and CAM photosynthesis. [10 marks]

3.
(a) Draw a clearly labeled diagram of a chloroplast. [6 marks]

(b) With the aid of a diagram, describe where and how light energy is converted to
ATP in the chloroplast. [15 marks]

(c) Name the accepted evolutionary origin of the chloroplast and state three properties
of the organelle that point to this origin. [4 marks]

PLEASE TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE

HBC206 PAGE TWO

4. With the aid of the diagram below write an account of the synthesis of lipids in
plants. [25 marks]

Sucrose

Glucose-6-P Glc-6-P

Phosphoenolpyruvate PEP

Pyruvate Pyruvate

AcetylCoA

MalonylCoA FAS

5. Write a brief account of the plastids of plants. [16 marks]

(b) Briefly describe the roles played by auxins in plants. [9 marks]

PLEASE TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE

HBC206 PAGE THREE

6.

(a) Distinguish between primary and secondary plant metabolites. [5 marks]

(b) Give a general structure and major functions of the following in a plant:

(i) alkaloids
(ii) flavonoids
(iii) tannins [5 marks each]

(c) Briefly describe the Haber-Bosch process and explain why it is important.
[5 marks]

END OF QUESTION PAPER