Physiological Criteria in Aid of Taxonomy of Angiosperms

In the past little attention was paid in the direction of utilising comparative biochemical studies towards a better understanding of Phylogenetic relationships of plants. In recent years with the advent of filter paper partition chromatography several investigators have, however, made comparison of chemical composition of higher plants within a particular taxon and between different taxa. Taxonomical correlations were attempted and the relation of conclusions arrived by this technique to the taxon omicai concepts based on morphological studies were examined. In the present study a survey of the literature available in this field was made. The survey indicated that the data available do not as yet permit the drawing of significant conclusions but they are interesting enough to warrant further exploration to examine the potentialities of comparative biochemical technique in taxonomy. The available work is strongly suggestive that biochemical technique can be a useful addition to the conventional methods in the study of taxonomy.