BOTANICAL CLASIIFICATION

This classification is based on structural differences and similarities in the morphology of reproductive
parts, the organs or plant parts that are less likely to be affected by the environment.
Botanical classification follows binomial system of nomenclature, which designates various plant genera
and species (scientific name) The systematic heiarchical arrangements as follows
1. Kingdom
2. Division
3. Class
4. Order
5. Family- Graminae- rice sugarcane, sorghum, wheat
Legumenosea- soybeans, beans, cowpea, lentil
6. Genus
7. Species

AGRONOMIC CLASSIFICATION
 Classification of Crops Base On
Purpose
0il crops-grown for their oil content. E.g. Soybean, peanut, sunflower, castor, coconut.

Beverage crops- used for brewing non-alcoholic drinks. Eg. Coffee, cacao, tea

Spices, condiments, essences- used to provide special flavor, color, and scent to food, perfumes, soaps, and
body dressing. E.g. Black pepper, vanilla, citronella, ilang-ilang

Latex and resins- used for extracting sap from the trunk/ stem. Eg. Rubber, chico, pili, rimas, papaya

Medicinal and poison crops- with curative, laxative and pesticidal properties. E.g. Lagundi, sambong, tobacco

According to light intensity requirement

&Heliophytes- Sun-loving (light saturation at 5000 foot candles Ex. Banana, chrysanthemum, corn, cowpea,
cucurbits, eggplant, papaya, peanut, sugarcane.

* Sciophytes -shade-loving (light saturation at 500 foot candles) Ex. Ginger, Ferns, coffee

Gross Physiological
Classification of crops based on Climate

Tropical- Crops best adapted in warm and hot climate

a. Rice b. Sugarcane, etc

2 Temperate- best adapted in cool climate, marked winter season/freezing

a. Wheat b. Oats, etc

Classification based on Growing Season

1. Rainy Kharif Monsoon crops- the crops grow in monsoon months from June to October/Nov. Require
warm- wet weather at major period of crop growth also required short day length for flowering. Ex.
Cotton, rice etc

2. Winter/Rabi/Cold season crops- require winter season to grow well from October to March. Crops grow
well in cold and dry weather. Require longer day length to flower. Ex Wheat, Sunflower etc.

3. Summer/Zaid crops- crops grown well in summer months from March to June. Require warm day
weather for major growth period. And longer day length for flowering. Ex. Groundnuts, watermelons
pumpkins, gourds

Classification Based on Life Cycle/Duration of crops

1. Seasonal crops- A crop complete its life cycle in one season ex. Rice, wheat etc.

2. Two seasonal crops- crops complete its life cycle in two seasons. Ex cotton, turmeric, ginger etc.

Classification based on photosynthesis ( Reduction of C02/Dark reaction)

 1. C3 plants- Photorespiration is high on these plants. Have lower water use efficiency. The initial product
of Carbon assimilation is the 3-carbon compounds. The enzyme involved in the primary carboxylation is
Ribulose-1-5 biphosphate carboxylase. Ex. Rice, soybean, wheat, barley, cotton, potato
2. C4 plants- The primary product of Carbon fixation is four Carbon compounds which is ascorbic acid.
The enzyme responsible for carboxylation is phosphoenol pyruvic acid carboxylase which has high
affinity for CO2 and capable of assimilation even at lower concentration of CO2. photorespiration is
negligible. Photosynthetic rate is higher in C4 than in C3 plants for the same amount of stomatal. They
are drought resistant and are able to grow well even under moisture stress, Ex. sorghum, maize, napier
grass, etc.
3. CAM-Crassulacean acid metabolism plants) the stomata open at night and and large amount of Carbon
dioxide is fixed which is stored in the vacuoles.. During daytime stomata are closed. Transpiration is
negligible. C4 and CAM plants have high water use efficiency. They are highly drought resistant. Ex.
Pineapple, sisal, agave etc.

PHOTOPERIODISM

Photoperiodism is the phenomenon of physiological changes that occur in plants in response to relative length
of day and night (i.e. photoperiod). Plant in order to flower require a particular day length or light period called
photoperiod and response of plants to photoperiod in terms of flowering is called photoperiodism. It influences
plant development such as leaf fall, dormancy and tuber formation but its major effect is on control of
flowering.

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS BASED ON PHOTOPERIODIC RESPONSES

Garner and Allard classified the plants into 5 types based on their photoperiod response of flowering:

1. Short day plants (SDP)

2. Long day plants (LDP)
3. Day neutral plants (DNP)
4. Short-long- day plants (SLDP)
5. Long- short- day plants (LSDP)

1. Short day plants

These plants require a relatively short day light period (usually 8-10 hours) and a continuous dark period
of about 14-16 hours for subsequent flowering. In short day plants, the dark period is critical and must be
continuous. If this dark period is interrupted with a brief exposure of red light (660-665 nm wavelength), the
short day plant will not flower. On the other hand, a brief period of darkness during day time had no effect on
flowering. Because of the importance of dark period in flowering, these are also called as Long Night Plants.
E.g. Rice, Coffee, Soybean, Tobacco, Chrysanthemum, Xanthium and Morning glory
(lpomoea purpurea)

2. Long day plants

These plants require longer day light period (usually 14-16 hours) in a 24 hours cycle for subsequent
flowering. These plants are also called as short night plants. In long day plants, light period is critical and a brief
exposure of red light in the dark period or the prolongation of light period stimulates flowering in long day
plants
E.g. Barley (winter barley), Wheat, Henbane (Hyoscyamus Niger), Radish, Cabbage, Sugar beet,
Spinach, carrot, lettuce and onion

3. Day neutral plants

Indeterminate or DNP flowers readily over a wide range of day length from relatively SDL
to continuous illumination. E.g. Tomato, Chilly, Potato, Cotton, Sunflower, Cucumber, Peas, Balsam and Maize
4. Short-long day plants
These are long day plants but must be exposed to short day during early periods of growth
for subsequent flowering. These plants require first short photoperiod and then long photoperiod for flowering.
E.g. Winter rye, Candy tuft

5. Long-short day plants

These are short day plants but must be exposed to long days during early periods of
growth for subsequent flowering. These plants require first long days and then short photoperiod for flowering.
These plants do not flower when exposed to either SD or LD and need both LD and SD for its flowering. E.g.
Bryophllum, Cestrum Nocturnum (Night blooming Jasmine)
Differences of Short day and long day Plants
Short day plant
1. Plants photoperiod is less than the critical day length. Flower when
2. Interruption during light period with darkness does not inhibit flowering.
3. Flowering is inhibited if the long dark period is interrupted by a flash of light.
4. Long uninterrupted dark periodic critical for flowering. Continuous and
5. Examples-Xanthium,coffee, tobacco, Glycine max etc.

Long day plant

1. Plants Flower when photoperiod is more than the critical day length.
2. Interruption during light period with darkness inhibit flowering.
3. Flowering occurs if the dark period is interrupted by a flash of light.
4. Dark period is not critical for flowering.
5. Examples-Sugarbeet, Spinach, carrot, lettuce