Mitospore - Refers to any spore which is produced as a result of only mitotic divisions in the sporangium and thus having genotype which is identical to the parent from which it is formed.

Mitotic Crossing Over - Used for the process that result in genetic recombination in mitotically dividing cells. It was first observed in Drosophila as a rare event.

Mitosis - The normal process of cell-division in which the chromosomes duplicate themselves into two separate nuclei, andultimately into two new cells. The difference between mitosis and mitosis is shown in Fig.MITOSIS METAPHASEMEIOSIS MET APHASEI The basic differecces in chromosome behaviour ic mitosis and meiosis.

Moder - A form of humus formed in conditions of mild temperature and normal pH with normal humidity. This form is some what intermediate between mor and mull humus.

Monoadeplhous - Said of stamens that have their filaments fused for the greater part of their length so forming a tube around the style.

Monocarpellary - 5cl.id of guynoecium of an angiospcrmic flower that has one carpel only.

Monochasial Cyme (Monochasium) - Refers to a cymose inflorescene in which only one axillary bud forms lateral branch at each node. The laterals which are arising on alternate sides of the main axis form scorpioid monochasium while laterals which are always arising on the same side form helicoid monochasium.

Monocolpate - Said of a pollen grain that is having one colpus. It is common in most petalloid monocotyledonous species.

Monoecious - Refers to an individual in which male and female reproductive organs get separated in different reproductive structures i.e., in male and female flowers but both type of flowers are present on the same plants. .

Monohybrid - Used for individual that is heterozygous in respect of a single factor. It is obtained by crossing two parents that are each homozygous but for different alleles of same factor. For example, when homozygote TT is made to cross with homozygote it an offspring heterozygote monohybrid Ti is obtained.

Monolete - Said of a spore having a simple linear scar which is marking the point at which it was joined previously in the tetrad e.g., micros pores of members of Isoetales.

Monophyletic - Used for describing phylogentic origin of taxa that are arising from diversification of a single ancestor. In cladistic only those taxa that have all the descendents of a common ancestor are considered as monophyletic.

Monoplanetic - Said of fungi that are producing only one type of planospores.

Monopodial Branching - Describing a type of growth where secondary shoots or branches are arising behind the growing point but remaining subsidiary to the main axis whose growth is indefinite. Hence younger shoots remain nearer the stem apex while older ones further away from the apex resulting in a pyramidal growth typical of conifers. Secondary shoots also exhibit same branching pattern on them.

Monosaccharides - Used for describing carbohydrates with empirical formula (CH2O)n,n=3-7.In these carbon atoms are arranged usually in unbranched chain with all carbons, except one, being hydroxylated remaining carbon is either ketonic (in ketose sugars) or aldehydic (aldose sugars). All monosaccharides, except dihydroxyacetone, possess chiral molecules i.e., exhibiting stereoisomerism. In aqueous solutions they form either pyranose or furanosrcing structure in which aldehydic or ketonic carbon is linked with one of the hydroxilated carbons. Isomorphic forms of ring structure of monosacchrides are α or β .

Monosomic - Of an otherwise diploid organism, that lacks one chromosome of its proper complement.

Mono porangium - A sporangium, producing monospores, borne terminally on short lateral branches.

Monospore - A large 4-nucleate aplanospore which is produced by some brown algae.

Monotypic - Said of a species or genus which is exemplified in only one type.

Monoxerous - Said of a parasitic fungus which is restricted to one species of host plant.

Monsoon Forest - Said of the type of forest in regions that are having a period of drought and rains (monsoon) alternately, Such forests are present in India. Burma and Indo-China.

Moor - Used for describing a region of land in wet, exposed conditions with very slow seepage of water in soil, acid-peaty soil having Nardus stricta. Molina caerulea etc., as common plants.

Mor - Like mull (q.v.) but it is practivally pure organic matter, more or less compacted and felted together.

Mor Humus - A humus which is developing on acid, sandy heaths. As the soil is too acid for an abundant microflora to live, it means that the humus develops on the surface of the soil.

Morphogenesis - (1) The development of structure or form. (2) The organization of tissues to form the mature organism.

Morphological Alternation of Generations - The alternation of generations, where the two generations do not look alike.

Morphology - (1) The study of external shape, in contrast to function.
(2) The actual shape of a member.

Mortality (death rate) - Used for describing the natural rate of loss of individuals by death. in a population. Minimun Mortality (specific or potential mortality) means the theoretical minimum rate of loss under ideal conditions and is a constant for a population.

Mosaic - (1) Used for describing the irregular pattern of light and dark-coloured, small green areas on the leaf of a plant due to infectrion of tobacco mosaic virus.
(2) Refers to the pattern of arrangement of lamina of leaves in the canopy of a plant which makes the maximum utilization of availoable light by the plant.

Mosses - Used for members of class Musci of Bryophyta. They are the largest and most widely distributed, including about 1500 species of 610 genera. Gametophytic generation is dominant and exists in two distinct forms, protonema which is formed after spore germination and the other a welldeveloped leafy plant which is developed from buds on protonema.

Mother Cell - Describing a cell that loses its identity after division due to differentiation in its daughter cells e.g., pollen mother cell.

Mould - A fungus which is producing distinct mycellium or spore mass. It is often resembling a velvet-like pad on the host surface. These generaly grow on dead and decomposing vegetative matter e.g., Mucor.

Mucilage - Used for any substance which wells on absorbing water and gives rise to a slimy solution. These are structurally very complex and generally store water e.g., pentosan mucilage in interior of succulent plants.

Mucronate - A structure which has small, fine point (a mucro) arising generally-at the tip.

MuItch - Used for any organic material which is spread on the ground to suppress annual weeds e.g., peat, leaf mould or shredded bark.

Mull (mild humus). Used for a type of humus which is formed in less acidic or alkaline soils that are rich in calcium and in regions of warm and mildly humid climate having deciduous forest or grassland.