ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Studies in Botany of the University is one of the leading Plant Science departments in the country dedicated to teaching and research in plant and microbial sciences. The department has a well-established ‘Botanic Garden’ with separate Glass House and a Fern House with its living collections of more than 400 species of plants. The department also has ‘Museum’, which is named after N.I. Vavilov, with a collection of over 300 specimens representing all major groups of Plant Kingdom. The ‘Herbarium’ of the department is one of the finest assets and many researchers have contributed for enriching the collections. It has more than 3500 plant species collections with complete descriptions and is one of the main referral centers for plant identification.

The department has strong research programs on different areas of plant biology. The faculty members have successfully guided 150 Ph. D’s so far, authored 20 text books and more than 1500 research papers in national and international journals, conference volumes etc. The department has been offering specialized course in the areas like Taxonomy of Angiosperms, Medicinal Botany, Plant Biotechnology, Plant Molecular Biology, Applied Plant Pathology, Microbiology and Environmental Biology. The faculty members have rich experience in isolation and characterization of antimicrobials from plants, plant and microbial taxonomy, molecular characterization of plant and microbial diversity, molecular diagnostics of phytopathogens, and signal transduction in relation to host-pathogen interaction. Recently the department is offering one year M. Phil. course in Botany for Post M. Sc. students.

The department has been funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India under the ‘FIST Program’ and also by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Non-SAP Program. The UGC has been supporting teaching and research under each plan period. In addition, the faculties have undertaken several individual and collaborative research projects from various agencies like, USDA, DST, UGC, ICAR, MOE&F, CSB, AICTE, Institution of Excellence (IOE-MHRD), etc. The department has inter-disciplinary research network with international and national research institutes such as CFTRI, CSR&TI, DFRL and other sister departments of the University. The following are the programmes of the Department of Studies in Botany for the next 25 years.

 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

 MICROBIOLOGY, MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY

• Detection of food - borne Listeria monocytogenes in dairy and seafood by PCR.
• Detection of mycotoxigenic fungi in poultry and animal feeds.
• Diversity and Taxonomy of Toxin producing fungi in cereals.
• Molecular characterization of the causative agent of Yellow Leaf Disease (YLD) of Areca catechu.
• Developed and standardized the protocols for herbal remedies for the management of seed borne pathogens and prevention of biodeterioration of grains storage.
• Identified the etiological agent responsible for Die back disease of Neem for the first time- Phomopsis azhadiractae.Detection of fumonisin producing Fusarium moniliforme using PCR.
• New pathotype of S. graminicola in pearl millet from Maharastra.
• Development of biochemical and molecular markers for downy mildew disease screening techniques.
• Biological and Organic management of plant diseases.
• Molecular diagnostics for disease diagnosis.
• Diversity and taxonomy of Termitomyces from Western Ghats of Karanataka.

 Taxonomy of Angiosperms, Morphology, Morphogenesis, Reproductive biology and Tissue culture

• Taxonomic and floristic studies in Karnataka - Shimoga district.
• Protocols for callus induction, regeneration and micro-propagation of medicinal plants like (Nymphoides cristatum, Sida cuniefolia, Baliospermum axillare, Oxystelma secamone, Physalis minima, Flaveria trinervia Pisonia alba, Coleus amboinicus and Solanum laeve), woody climbers (Tristelatia australis, Quisqualis indica, Adenocalyma allicea) and woody ornamentals (Nyctanthus arbortristis, Switenia mahogany).
• Biology and management of angiosperm parasites such as Sophubia delphinifolia, Aeginetia indica, A. pedunculata, A. sessilis, Ramphicarpa sp., and Santalum album, Cassytha filiformis.
• Understanding reproductive biology of biologically specialized families such as Arecaceae (Pritchardia arecina), Orobanchaceae (Aeginetia pedunculata, A indicaand A. sessilis), Santalaceae, Lauraceae, etc.
• Isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds with neutraceutical properties from water spinach (Ipomoea aqutica)

  MEDICINAL BOTANY AND HERBAL DRUG TECHNOLOGY

• Screened more than 100 plants for antimicrobial activity and identified eight candidate plants for further work.
• Isolated and characterized a novel antifungal compound from Prosopis juliflora.
• Developed and standardized the protocols for herbal remedies for the management of seed borne pathogens and prevention of biodeterioration of grains during storage.
• Isolation of free -radicals scavenging antioxidants from water Spinach( Ipomoea aquatica).
• Evaluation of AM fungi for enhancement of biomass of medicinal plants .

  ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY

• Toxicological effects of Pendimethaline on the germination and early growth of Maize and Soybean.
• Effects of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Dimethazone) on crop plants
• Impact of vehicular exhaust on avenue trees has been investigated.
• Pollen as a bio-indicator of vehicular pollution.
• Air-borne bacterial/fungal load was assessed in Hospital environment and Libraries by Andersen Sampler.
• Air-spora analysis and monitoring in residential, commercial and Industrial Areas of Mysore City.
• Utilization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in reclamation of barren and degraded land.
• Evaluation of the effect of Sugar Industry Effluents on deterioration of paddy seed quality.

 THRUST AREAS OF RESEARCH ENVISAGED

• Biodiversity Exploration, Documentation and Conservation
• Plant Molecular Biology
• Herbal Drug Technology – Drug Discovery
• Molecular Plant Pathology
• Cytogenetics and Cell Based Assay for Toxicological Studies.
• Molecular Diagnostics for Plant Disease Diagnosis.
• Isolation and identification of endophytes associated with the production of   secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.
• Diversity and Ethnobotany of flowering plants
• Reproductive biology of biologically specialized flowering plants
• Propagation and conservation of plants through tissue culture
• Environmental Biology and Molecular Biology

STATUS OF THE DEPARTMENT

CHAIRS/FELLOWSHIPS/MEDALS

• Prof. K N Narayan Gold Medal for obtaining FIRST RANK in M.Sc., Botany
• Prof K S Jagadishchandra and Smt Padmavathamma Endowment Gold Medal for securing First Rank in M.Sc., Botany,
• Prof. Govindappa D Arekal Endowment Gold Medal for securing First Rank in M.Sc., Botany.
• Smt Tara Bai and Sri A N Sindhe Memorial Endowment Gold Medal for securing First Rank in M.Sc., Botany.
• Keragodu Chaitanyaradhya Swamy Memorial Cash Prize for securing First Rank in M.Sc., Botany.
• Prof. L Narayana Rao and Jayalakshmamma Central College Botanical Society Silver Jubilee Commemoration Cash Prize for securing First Rank in M.Sc., Botany
• Dr K N Narayan, M. Sc., Ph. D. Endowment Cash Prize for securing First Rank in M.Sc., Botany.
• Prof. K. S. Jagadishchandra Young Scientist Award for Plant Sciences.
• Prof. M. A. Sampathkumaran and Mr. S. Parthasarathi Iyengar Memorial Cash Prize for securing First Rank in M. Phil. Botany.

 NATIONAL CONFERENCE/ SYMPOSIA/ WORKSHOPS HELD

AWARDS/HONOURS RECEIVED BY INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS

ON GOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

PLANT HEALTH CLINIC

The Department of Studies in Botany, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore has the privilege of having ‘Plant Health Clinic’ established by then botanist and plant pathologist Dr. S. Shankara Bhat, who is popularly recognized as Plant Doctor in Mysore. The upgraded facility of plant clinic was inaugurated by the then Minister for Agriculture Mr.T.B Jayachandra. Govt. of Karnataka. An Exhibition of important diseases of crop plants of the region is held for the benefit of farmers regularly. The Plant Health Clinic is offering free/paid consultancy to farmers and needy growers in plant disease diagnosis and integrated disease management practices and on general crop husbandry. Diseases of cereals, fruits and vegetables, plantation and cash crops from different areas of cultivation are being examined and diagnosed using modern tools and techniques. Every Saturday, plant doctor of the department visit the farmers field and solve the problems related to plant diseases. The farmers are not only advised on remedial measures  for management of diseases but are also provided with scientific information on organic farming, quality seeds, hybrid seeds, seed testing, agricultural appliances, bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, vermi-com. It has identified itself through its broad based activities, of which the following few are its primary concern. posting, mushroom cultivation, right pesticides, dosages and methods of application.  Every year hundreds of farmers are making use of this facility for plant disease management. The motto of Plant Health Clinic is to provide eco-friendly solutions to farmers and growers for sustainable agriculture. The farmers and growers can avail this facility at the department by approaching the resource persons.

BEST PRACTICES: BOTANICAL SOCIETY

Plants cover the earth and provide food and fuel that sustains most of the earth’s biomass and life forms. The discipline which deals with plant biology is better known as botany, Plant science(s) or Phytology. Over the years the discipline of Botany has expanded significantly and contributed immensely for the development of human civilizations all over the world. As in other sciences, there is an explosion of knowledge in this field as well. The new developments that are taking  place in various  areas of plant molecular biology and plant biotechnology are exciting and challenging.
The recent developments and the powerful tools have provided us a wealth of insight into how plants grow, reproduce, develop, respond to their environment and defend themselves. In the second half of the th century the discovery of the structure of DNA and RNA, the steps in protein synthesis and other great discoveries revolutionized the study of plants at all levels, from cells to ecosystems. Taxonomists, evolutionists, ecologists, physiologists, physiologist, and developmental biologists are now using modern approaches to discovers responses and mechanisms that were not accessible in the past. It is now possible to identify with much precision, the particular genes responsible for traits with modern biotechnology tools.
To understand these latest developments in plant science and to provide extra-curricular activities and to properly channelize the energies of students and research scholars Botanical Society activities were started in year 1960. It has identified itself through its broad based activities, of which the following few are its primary concern.

• Providing a platform for seminars and specialist lecturers on topics of current research interest by foreign and Indian educators. 
• Organizing workshops, colloquia and symposia on thrust areas of plant science in collaboration with others scientific bodies.
• Exposing the members to various industrial applications of Botany through visits to industries thereby increasing the scope for Academy-Industry-Interaction.
• Conducting quiz, debate and poster presentation programmes to students to increase the general awareness and popularize the subjects among natural lovers.
• Honouring the individuals and societies for their immense contributions of plant science including agriculture.
• Organizing educative exhibitions and demonstrations of satisfy the public’s curiosity.