Department of Botany

Where flowers bloom, so does Hope...

 The word "Plants" to most people, means a wide range of living organisms from the smallest bacteria to the largest living things - the giant sequoia trees. By this definition plants include: algae, fungi, lichens, mosses, ferns, conifers and flowering plants. With the modern belief that bacteria, algae and fungi are in their own distinct kingdoms, botany courses still deal with these groups. A study of the structure, function, classification and evolution of plants has inspired many great minds. Plants are unique as converters of solar energy and act as providers of energy to the living world. One is awed by their diversity and life span extending to thousands of years.

The ever widening scope in the subject has resulted in many kinds of plant biologists, which is an indicator to the different opportunities available. Botanists interested in ecology study interactions of plants with other organisms and the environment. Field botanists search to find new species or do experiments to discover how plants grow under different conditions. Some botanists study the structure of plants. They may work in the field, concentrating on the pattern of the whole plant. Others use microscopes to study the most detailed fine structure of individual cells. Many botanists do experiments to determine how plants convert simple chemical compounds into more complex chemicals. They may even study how genetic information in DNA controls plant development. Botanists study processes that occur on a time scale ranging from fractions of a second in individual cells to those that unfold over eras of evolutionary time.

The results of botanical research increase and improve our supply of medicines, foods, fibers, building materials, and other plant products. Conservationists use botanical knowledge to help manage parks, forests, range lands, and wilderness areas. Public health and environmental protection professionals depend on their understanding of plant science to help solve pollution problems.

The study of Botany is fascinating and renewing and updating its components has been the essential ingredient of any vibrant academic system. In tune with the recent developments in the subject, the curriculum has been designed to introduce innovative concepts, provide a multidisciplinary profile and allow flexible initiation of new papers to cater to frontier developments in the concerned subject. The curriculum thus designed incorporates basic classical botany integrated with adequate applied aspects like biotechnology, nursery management and floriculture, environmental science and pharmacognosy to make this course competitive. The course also provides opportunities in practical field experiences.

Students who opt for a degree course in botany have the option of a combination with Zoology and Chemistry coupled with appropriate languages. Since its inception in 1957, the faculty has engaged in student centered approach, enhancing skills through 'Learning by Doing' which enable a student in the department to hone all the necessary qualities to meet the demands of the modern day. The cordial relationships between faculty and students combined with firmness when required keep the students active and alert while working towards achieving their goals.

OBJECTIVES:
¢ TEACHERS

" Teaching - Through quality teaching, moulding our students into "Women of substance with a Human Face", striving towards excellence in all aspects of all round development.
" Learning - Striving towards excellence in the aspects of knowledge and developmental skills and also learning for all round development.
" Evaluation - Both teacher and students evaluate each other in an impartial time bound objective way and the evaluation is followed by regular follow up.
" Research - Orientation and training of students towards research.
" Extension - To reach out to society through the subject by imparting top quality knowledge of Botany wherever and whenever needed.

¢ STUDENTS

" Learning - To be active participants in the various classroom activities. To acquire various skills in the process of learning. To use the opportunities provided to enhance quality of knowledge, reading, skill development and ability of comprehension.
" Skills - To develop skills of observation, creative imagination, scientific thinking to develop an overall attitude of scientific temper.
" Research - To utilize the various programmes and opportunities provided by the department to inculcate a thirst towards research.
" Extension - To transfer the knowledge and skills acquired for the benefit of society through the extension programmes planned. Also to serve society with values of humaneness, concern and dedication.

 Profile of the Department of Botany

Activities for the year 2011 - 2012

• Wealth from Waste: 3^rd August 2011

• One day Regional seminar on ‘Trees – Caretakers of the Planet’

One day Regional Seminar on “Trees – The Caretakers Of The Planet” held on 5^th August 2011, to commemorate the IUCN ‘International Year of Forests’ 2011 (Forests 2011) to convey the theme of “Forests for People” organized by the Department of Botany and Nature Club.

The Seminar was inaugurated by Dr. K. R. Chandrashekhar, Chairperson, Department of Applied Botany, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Almost two-thirds of the living species on earth depend on forest resources. With tribal medicines made from plants becoming popular across the globe, over a hundred species of plants are getting extinct each day. He added that the concept of conservation is not a new one, but has been in existence for centuries now, however, it was never effectively implemented. Laws practiced on force will help the forest conservation to greater extent, he opined.

During the valedictory programme two stalwarts Mr. E. Vittal Rao & ex-Agnesian Ms. Celine Aranha of Parisarasaktha Okkoota were felicitated for their service to environment.

Environmental Awareness Through Nature Club Activities:

The activities have made us more sensitive to environmental citizenship by minimizing pollution, plastics and effective methods of solid waste management.

 Future Plans

• To start new courses like

• Use the ‘Plant Tissue Culture laboratory’ for original research work.

• Enthuse our alumni to institute scholarships to be used as stipends for those undertaking department project / research work. 

Publications/Paper Presentations(last 4 years):

•  Maria G. L., Sridhar K. R. and Raviraja N. S. 2005. Antimicrobial and enzyme activity of mangrove endophytic fungi of Southwest coast of India. Journal of Agricultural Technology 1 (1): 67

•  Sridhar K. R. and Maria G. L. 2006. Fungal Diversity on mangrove woody litter Rhizophora mucronata (Rhizophoraceae). Indian Journal of Marine Sciences. Vol. 35(4); 318-325.

•  Maria G. L., Sridhar K. R. and Ba¨rlocher, F. 2006. Decomposition of dead twigs Avicennia officinalis and Rhizophora mucronata in a mangrove in Southwest India. Botanica Marina 49: 450-455.

•  Raviraja N. S., Maria G. L. and Sridhar K. R. 2006. Antimicrobial Evaluation of endophytic fungi inhabiting Medicinal Plants of the Western Ghats of India. Engineering Life Sciences 6(5): 515-520

Staff Members: