Department of Botany

The postgraduate and research department of botany came into being in 1967 with the introduction of sciences at the now extinct pre-degree, and B.Sc was started in 1977.  It was in 1995 that postgraduate program was launched.  There are eight faculty members of which five are doctoral degree holders. Three of them are rank holders at the postgraduate level too.

Faculty profile

NO NAME DESIGNATION QUALIFICATION EMAIL PHONE
1 Dr Vivek P J Associate Professor MSc. UGC (JRF) NET, Ph.D vivekpj@gmail.com 9495242805
2 Dr Resmi M S Associate Professor MSc. CSIR (JRF) NET, Ph.D resmivivek@gmail.com 9495826742
3 Dr Hussain K Associate Professor MSc. UGC hussainkoorimannil@gmail.com 9895501751
4 Dr Maju T T Assistant Professor MSc. UGC (JRF) NET, Ph.D majutt@gmail.com 9495339459
5 Dr Krishnakumar K.A Assistant Professor M.Sc, JRF, SRF

UGC CSIR NET

kumar.biomail@gmail.com 9995520613
6 Smitha C K Assistant Professor M.Sc, B. Ed

PhD

smithack.ck@gmail.com 9446431079
7 Dr. Sumayya S S Assistant Professor MSc. Botany,UGC NET,PhD  sumayyasumi01@gmail.com 9495177500
8 Jayakrishnan T Assistant Professor Msc,UGC CSIR JRF-NET,      jayanelenjeery@gmail.com 9946988 732

 


  1. Class UG-Sem

    I/II

    UG – Sem III/IV UG – Sem V/VI PG-Sem

    I/II

    PG-Sem III/IV
    Sanctioned Strength 20 20 20 8 8
    No. of Students Admitted 35 36 26 12 12
    No of present students 34 33 26 11 12
    Boys 3 3 2 0 2
    Girls 31 30 24 11 10
    SC 6 4 3 2 2
    ST 0 0 0 1 0
    OBC and minority 12 11 10 2 7
    General 7 3 7 5 3

    Student profile

     

    1. Present number and categories:

 

b. Qualification: Any student who passes Higher Secondary, Vocational Higher Secondary, CBSE, AISCE or equivalent with biology, physics and chemistry as optional papers can apply for undergraduate program in botany. When it comes to the postgraduate program, admission is restricted to those with degree in botany and allied subjects.

c. In tune with the general trend most of the candidates consider undergraduate program in botany a poor substitute for a degree in engineering, medicine or nursing. However, after becoming a part of the College, almost all the students put in sincere efforts and are generally successful. It is the well-considered opinion of the department that courses should be redesigned in such a way that students must get inspired to join original research and gain certain skills by the time they pass out of the academy.

d. Among the factors that place hurdles on the road to excellence are poor financial background of students, vernacular schooling, low exposure and general apathy to education. The department tries to improve the situation through tutorials, personal interventions and remedial classes.

  1. Recent curricular changes

The UG program has been converted into credit and semester system from 2009 admissions onwards. Syllabus of PG program was revised in 2005.

 

Learning resources:

Infrastructure and research facilities

A research laboratory could be established in the department following the sanction of a major research project funded by Biotechnology Commission, KSCSTE and Post graduate assistance sanctioned from UGC. The laboratory is equipped with facilities for tissue culture work basic biochemical analysis and molecular biology. New equipments viz. Autoclave, Incubator, Vortex mixer, micro centrifuge, Magnetic stirrer, -20o freezer, Imported stereo microscope with built in camera for image acquisition, SLR camera, Microwave oven and Rotary shaker has been added to the laboratory utilizing the fund of major research project. A DLP projector has been added to the department from plan fund. The plan fund of Rs. 1, 50,000/- sanctioned has been utilized for the purchase of glassware, chemicals and other laboratory articles.

There is another autoclave, two balances (two digit and three digit), vertical and horizontal gel electrophoretic systems, pH meter, U/V spectrophotometer, microtome etc. acquired earlier in various funds (UGC and State plan funds).

The PG assistance has been utilized for the strengthening of laboratory facilities. The new additions include, PCR machine, UV Transilluminator, Imported digital balance, Refrigerated centrifuge and Laminar Air Flow hood.  Two DLP projectors, pH meters and colorimeters were purchased in UGC additional grants received in 2011.

Botanic Garden

One of the major achievements during 2009 – 10 is the establishment of a Botanic garden within the college campus. The garden has a good collection of Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, ornamentals and medicinal plants. The banana plantlets raised at the tissue culture lab is being hardened at the net house of the botanic garden.  Plants are being arranged as per standard classification for academic purpose.

Medicinal plant repository

A medicinal plant repository with about 300 medicinal plants could be maintained from funds generated from Ministry of Environment and Forests through CED, Trivandrum and from fund for local curriculum development of UGC. The medicinal plant repository include Dashapushpa, Dasamoola, Nalpaamara, Panchavalka, Thriphala, Thrikadu, Thrigandha, plants in infant care and veterinary medicine, plants in puranas, different types of milk weeds , different forms of basils etc. The established ‘Nakshatravana’ is an achievement in conservation levels.

Implementation of Scheme of local curriculum development

As part of implementation of local curriculum development, two different project works were carried out by the department.

  1. Biodiversity studies of the sacred groves of Pattambi region with special emphasis on RET species:  The floristic diversity of 5 selected sacred groves of Pattambi region has been undertaken in order to understand the present status of this relic vegetation.
  2. Plants used in traditional medicines of south Malabar: This study emphasised the conservation and protection of traditional medicinal plants. The study revealed more than three hundred herbs in the traditional medicines and many of them are collected and conserved in the botanic garden.   As part of this an awareness programme and one day exhibition of medicinal plants has been organized at the botanic garden for the local people and nearby school children and distributed reading materials emphasising the medicinal plant diversity at the local level and the need for its conservation.
  3.  Exploration of river bank flora of Pattambi: The study was conducted to familiarize the local flora along the banks of river Nila. Flora of the region was documented, herbaria was prepared and deposited at the department.

Reference Library

Department maintains a reference section with about 500 books with latest editions of reference materials. The post graduate and degree students were given sufficient time to refer the latest developments in the field of biological sciences.

Laboratories for under graduate and post graduate students

The laboratories for UG and PG students are with sufficient facilities for the conduct of practicals. The UG lab is with 25 compound and simple microscopes each, with apparatus and chemicals for Physiology and  Biochemistry. The PG lab have sufficient microscopes, Water bath, Oven, Refrigerator,pH meter, colorimeter etc.

Tissue culture facility

Tissue culture laboratory is well equipped to carry out most of tissue culture related studies including micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, suspension cultures, etc.  There is a growth room which is maintained at 27oC with two Air conditioners.  Growth room has two culture racks illuminated with white fluorescent light.  There is also a large shaker suitable for continuous operation which is a necessity to carry out suspension cultures.  There are one laminar flow hood (one more will be acquired in PG grant), two Autoclaves, Oven, Distillation unit, Refrigerator, Deep freezer, Balance with a precision of 0.1 mg, pH meter etc.  For documentation of experimental observations there is a 10 mega pixel SLR camera and Stereo microscope with built in camera with option for computer connectivity.

Museum and Herbarium

Department maintains a museum of about 500 preserved specimens as reference materials for students. This include, specimens of marine algae, vegetative and reproductive parts of bryophytes, Pteridophytes and  Gymnosperms. Samples of modified plant parts and economically important plant parts are other additions in the museum. The Museum also maintains an excellent collection of demonstration charts and models for improving the learning experience of the students.

The dried plants by way of herbarium include about 1000 specimens belonging to various families. The herbarium specimens provide an added exposure to students to familiarize the flora of different localities.

The specimens at the museum and herbarium along with the database provide an opportunity for students of the department as well as of other disciplines to experience the diversity within the plant kingdom.

Utilization of audio – visual aids

Teaching / learning process is supported and  complemented by digital devices like computers and LCD projectors. Almost all the classroom learning sessions of UG and PG are supported with powerpoint presentations utilizing laptops and LCD projectors. The practical sessions are dealt with live plant specimens and demonstration charts.

Internet facility

The internet facility at the department is being utilized by the staff and students for up to date information in almost all branches of Botany.

Tutorial sessions

The students of each programme are being controlled by one faculty member and tutorial sessions are conducted effectively by these staff members. During the tutorial sessions each student is given sufficient exposure to improve language skills, knowledge base and practical skills. Different activities are being planned and executed by the tutor effectively to facilitate the overall individual development of each student as an independent individual.

Compulsory Social Service (CSS)

As part of the curriculam of the University, social service become inevitable and the students of the department utilizes this by way of their activities for environmental protection, planting up of seedlings, conservation of flora and awareness creation among the students and public on effective waste disposal and waste management.

Interactive classes

In addition to the normal lecture and practical sessions by the faculty, students have been exposed to interactive sessions with resource persons from various fields of biological sciences and from other disciplines.

Remedial coaching

The continuous evaluation process by assignments, seminars and periodical test papers enable the identification of marginal learners. After this identification of the students and the specific areas of study, special sessions of remedial coaching are being conducted by the faculty members. The students of complementary Botany are given remedial classes periodically in addition to the core Botany learners.

Field study

Field studies are integral part of the curriculam and the students of UG and PG were given sufficient exposure by the conduct of occasional exploration trips to ecologically significant and fragile ecosystems. This generally include visits to an ecologically significant forest ecosystem, marine ecosystem for Algal collection and biodiversity rich sites such as Ooty ,Wynad etc. for environmental awareness and biodiversity studies.

Visits to research institutions

Inorder to inculcate research aptitude among the growing minds, annual visits to leading research institutions of the state are planned and the students were given exposure to current developments in biological sciences. The visits to research centres generally provide exposure to modern equipments and techniques employed in different branches of biological sciences.

 

Journals

01

02

03

04

Indian Journal of Experimental Biology

Indian Journal of Plant Genetic resources

Journal of Palynology

Indian Forester

 

  1. Modern teaching methods: In addition to Seminars, projects and assignments, Department employ online tools through internet .
  2. Counseling: A counseling wing, entrusted with the task of intervening in the scholastic and personal problems of students, has been functioning in the department
  3. Details of faculty development programs and teachers who have been benefited during the past two years:

 

 

iii. Seminars and talks conducted by the department:

 

Collaboration: Crop improvement of Okra – Joint Minor Project with Kerala Agricultural University.

 

Research, projects and publications:

:There are five doctoral degree holders; three are research supervisors.

 

b. Projects:

c. Publications

Placement record of past students

No Name Present status
01 C. Sheeba Teacher, Kendriya Vidyala, Kanjokkodu
02 K.V. Anitha Victoria College, Palakkad
03 D. Dhanya Victoria College, Palakkad
04 Fathima Febin Unity Women’s College, Manchery
05 K. Sandeep Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala
06 Sajna Kollampatta MES College, Ponnani
07 Varun Menon Senior Research Felllow, Kerala Forest Research Institute
08 Dr. M. Raghu Scientfic Officer, Kottakkal Arya Vaisya Sala
09 K.M. Krishnan Advocate, Pattambi
10 G. Umadevi Arafa EMHSS, Trichur
11 M. Soumini Nehru Memorial School, Vadakkancheri
12 Dr. Udayan P S SreeKrishna College, Guruvayur

 

  1. Plan for action of the department for the next five years:

As far as the department of botany is concerned, the blueprint for the next five years is clear and ambitious.The first priority is to create an ambience of research and perceptive learning. To achieve this, following plan of action have been set up by the department for the next five years.

  1. Recognition of the department under the FIST programme of DST
  2. Taking up of major and minor research programmes from various funding agencies by the faculty
  3. Initiation of monthly lecture series on newly emerging areas of life sciences by eminent scientists and academicians
  4. Setting up of an organized instrumentation facility for interdisciplinary research
  5. Starting up of an add –on – course in Industrial tissue culture
  6. Setting up of a bioinformatics lab at the department
  7. Starting up of UGC-CSIR NET coaching for post graduates, exploring funding avenues from University Grants Commission
  8. Expansion and maintenance of Botanic garden as a model species conservatory and as a reference collection for students and faculty
  9. Extension of consultancy services to the public on identification of floristic elements, tissue culture, Mushroom cultivation, Floriculture and Horticulture practices.