About the Department

Year of establishment: 1902 (Undergraduate) & 2021 (Post-Graduate)

The department of Botany has a glorious history of its own. In the Government of Bengal notification number 1913, date-26th October, 1853, it was declared that the Berhampore College would open from the 1st November, 1853. This college was affiliated to the University of Calcutta on 2nd May, 1857. From 1st January, 1872, certain innovations were introduced. The sub assistant surgeon of Berhampore Charitable Dispensary was appointed to lecture on Chemistry and Botany. This is the earliest record of botany teaching in the undergraduate classes in Bengal. We may establish this document as the birth date of our beloved department. The first teachers in botany were medical graduate namely Dr. Akshay Kr. Dey and Dr. Benimadhab Bose- students of botany under Dr. Thomas Anderson in the Calcutta Medical College.

Rev. E.M. Wheeler joined this college as its Principal in 1906 when teaching of botany was revived. The college was affiliated in botany for the I.Sc. standard in 1912 and B.Sc. Pass in 1921 on the recommendation of Dr. P. Bruhl. In addition to Rev. Wheeler, botany was taught by J.C. Nag, B.Sc. (California), who was followed by Satyasaran Sinha, B.Sc. (Illinois, USA). Since then department of Botany appears as a separate from the Chemical Science department with few general course students. In the tear 1970, when the prestigious college observed 117 years of its educational journey, the department of botany extended to affiliation in honours courses by the University of Calcutta. The Post Graduate course was introduced in 2021 by the Murshidabad University.

Courses:

Programme: M.Sc. in Botany
Level of Study: Post- Graduation
Eligibility: Honours degree in Botany under 10+2+3 scheme of examination
Intake capacity: 37

Research:

1. Research Scholars: Nil
2. Projects: 01
3. Publications: 45
4. Collaborations: 3

Thrust area in teaching and research of the department:

1. Teaching support: Microbiology, Immunology, Phycology, Bryology, Pteridology, Gymnosperms, Taxonomy of angiosperms & Biosystematics, Mycology & Plant pathology, Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, Cytology & Genetics, Cell Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Palaeobotany & palynology, Ecology & Environmental Biology, Plant Anatomy, Developmental Biology & Pharmacognosy
2. Research support: Aerobiology, Allergy and Immunology, Plant Taxonomy & Biosystematics, Ethnobotany, Palaeobotany, Palynology & Climate Change, Plant Physiology & Biochemistry and Pteridophytes.

Major activities:

Organized a seminar on world Environment day on 5th June, 2022

Additional information:

Vision:

The term ‘botany’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Botane’ means ‘Grass or Herbs’. The aim of the study of botany is to prepare students for lifelong learning processes to acquire knowledge of the vast world of plants and introducing to the methodology of systematic academic enquiry as well. It is necessary to make aware the students about our nature and its natural resources as well as environmental conditions. Keeping this in mind we want to provide a firm foundation in every modern aspect of botany.

Mission:

1. To know the importance and scope of the subject botany.
2. To develop a scientific attitude to make students open minded and curious.
3. To make aware of endangered plant species for its conservation.
4. Proper preservation of Century long herbarium specimens.
5. To explore different phytogeographical regions.
6. To develop the ability for the application of acquired knowledge in the fields of life to make our country self-reliant and self-sufficient.

Program educational objectives:

1. This curriculum in Botany aims to increase the understanding of the students about the diversity of microorganisms, their pathogenicity as well as the immune system of cells & organs. Course also includes the study of different plant groups (algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms), their classification, structure, growth, origin and evolutionary aspect, their role in environment, ecological significance and economic importance.
2. The course also aims to understand the techniques of fossil study, concept of continental drift hypothesis, origin and evolution of plant life, applied palaeobotanical approach and also palynological study.
3. To make students understand the concepts of microscopy, cell and its components, Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance, linkage mapping, genetic regulation, population genetics and transposable elements.
4. Morphological and biochemical characterization of different drug yielding plants; Biosynthetic pathway study of different drugs; Quality control study of different drugs; to study about different plant drugs and their use pattern by indigenous people.
5. This course aims to teach the physiological and biochemical aspects of plant system, concept and applications of genetically modified crops and various aspects of plant tissue culture.
6. The course aims to understand the scope and nature of plant ecology, concepts of population ecology, community ecology, biodiversity and conservation with the impact of human activities.

Program outcomes

After completion of the course the learners will be able to:

1. Understand about the diversity of microorganisms, their classification, growth, Explain their role in environment, genetic analysis and pathogenicity.
2. Develop theoretical and technical skills of basic microbiology (sterilize, isolate, culture, preserve microbes).
3. To describe the origin, classification, phylogeny and different features of algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms with their ecological and economical importance.
4. To understand the APG classification and code of nomenclature, explain the concept of phenetics and cladistics, describe floristic diversity and traditional knowledge of plants and the methods of conservation, explain the scope of biosystematics.
5. To understand the types and mode of preservation techniques of different fossils and morphology and different approaches of palynology.
6. To understand the mobile genetic elements and genetic regulation.
7. Apply the knowledge regarding physiological and biochemical details of photosynthesis and respiration.
8. Students will acquire knowledge in Traditional Medicines.
9. On successful completion of this course, students would be able to gain knowledge about the important techniques of molecular biology.
10. On completion of the course the students will gain knowledge about plant tissue culture and its various applications, micropropagation protocol, biotechnological applications for crop management.
11. To understand about the relationship between the living world with their environment.