Department of Botany

24 January 2018 - ZOOLOGICAL PARK VISIT

On 24.01.18 46 students of III B.Sc., Botany, 3 Professors along with one Lab Assistant visited to Kurumbampatty Zoological Park, Salem between 8.30 am and 05.30 pm. On the way to Kurumbampatty Park plants namely Abutilon indicum, Aloe vera, Anona squamosa, Barleria cristata, Carica papaya, Catharanthus roseus, Cassia auriculata, Bauhinia racemosa, Duranta repens, Datura stramonium, Emblica officinalis, Euphorbia tirucalli, Gynandropsis pentaphylla, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Ixora coccinea, Justica tranquebariensis, Lantana indica, Pergularia daemia (=Daemia extensa), Nerium oleander, Musa paradisiaca, Ricinus communis, Solanum trilobatum, Sida accuta, Vinca rosea, Zizypus jujupa etc., were noted down by the students.

At 10.00 am the students entered in to the park and more than 110 plants were identified. Students noted down the important characters along with their therapeutic values of the plants in their field note. The trees like Azardiracta indica, Acacia arabica, Callistemon lanceolatus, Terminalia chebula, Santalum album, Aegle marmelos, Bauhinia vahlii, Pongamia pinnata, Caryota urels, Madhuca indica, Thespesia populnea, Polyalthia longifolia, Mangifera indica, Alstonia scholaris, Cassia fistula, Bambusa arundinacea, Sesbania grandiflora, Michelia champaca, Muntingia calabura, Delonix regia, Syzygium cumini, Psidium guajava, Ficus bengalensis, Morinda tinctoria, Holoptera integirifolia, Enterolobium saman, Melia azedarach, Shrubs and herbs like Cassia auriculata, Ervatamia coronaria, Sesbania bispinosa, Bougainvillea spectabilis , Euphorbia milii, Chloris barbata, Euphorbia hirta, Clitoria ternatea, Pavonia zeylanica, Stachytarpheta indica, Hemidesmus indicus, Gynandropsis pentaphylla etc., were listed by the students.

The plant twigs were collected by the students for their herbarium preparation. We also collected various plants for our practical purpose Around 05.00 pm we left from the park and reached the college campus safely at 05.30 pm. The trip trained and tuned us to identify the plants with their morphology and habitats. Further this trip helped us to see many natural habitats.

08 December 2017

Botany department conducted the association meeting on 08.12.17. Mrs. C. Parvathy, Principal (i/c) presided over the meeting. Dr.K.Vijayakumari, Head of the department welcomed the gathering. International Guest Speaker Dr. Paramasivam Natarajan, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., Scientist, DMPK, Pharmacyclics, 997 E Arques Ave, Sunny Vale, CA 94085 – USA, presented a special lecture on “COLD TOLERANCE: A CONSERVED MOLECULAR MECHANISM FROM FUNGI TO HIGHER PLANTS”.

He explained about the structural elucidation of the plasma membrane and its molecular arrangement. He insisted the importance of Arabiodopsis thaliana plant in cold tolerance research. He clearly delivered the technique regarding gene transfer using the fungus Saccharomyces under in vitro condition. He also pointed out the importance of DRS 2 and its identity towards ALA1 of Arabiodopsis thaliana.

The students were motivated by his speech and gained knowledge to pursue their research programme. Finally our student Selvi. D.Janani of III B.Sc., Botany presented the vote of thanks.

19 August 2017

In Botany Department, an association meeting was conducted on 19.08.2017 at 2.00pm on the college premises. Mrs. C. Parvathy, Principal(i/c) presided over the meeting. Dr. K. Vijayakumari, Head of the department welcomed the gathering. Dr.K.Kalaichelvi, Associate Professor of Botany, Vellalar college for women, Erode was the chief guest and presented a special lecture on “Plant Taxonomy: A Panoramic View”. She explained classification of plants and its importance. She insisted the students to follow template method for their easy memory of important characters of plant families and steps to draw the floral diagrams with suitable examples. She made a note on the evolutionary importance of plant characters. The meeting was beneficial to nearly 170 participants, which motivated them to take up research in this interesting field of study.

Gallery

TRAINING CUM WORKSHOP PROGRAMME REPORT

ICAR – TNAU – Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sandhiyur, Sale, conducted “Training cum Workshop on Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act 2001” on 30.03.2017. 30.03.2017. 30.03.2017. 45 students, 2 Faculty members and 1 Lab assistant of Botany Department participated in Training cum Workshop programme. Dr.Sriram, Director, TNAU, KVR, Sandhiyur gave an inaugural address. Special Address was given by Dr. K. Vijayakumari, Head, Department of Botany, GACW, Salem – 8. Dr.Vijayan, Asst.Prof. of Seed Technology division , TNAU, Coimbatore delivered a lecture about different types of plant varieties , method of protection and different laws with reference to farmer’s rights .

He also explained about Farmer’s rights, researcher’s rights, how to document a traditional plant variety, procedure of documentation, details about the registration, DUS assay, helping hand of botanist regarding plant characterization for obtaining patent and royalty to the farmers. Students also had interaction with farmers and shared their knowledge. Students came to know about various awards, which was available for scientists and farmers. This workshop was highly helpful to the farmers who got enlighted upon 140 Crop species which were enlisted in the given Hand Book.

TREE CLUB –REPORT 2018 - 19

The Tree Club is functioning successfully in Govt Arts College for Women, Salem-8 by the Department of Botany with the Principal Dr.P.Ranganathan as the president and Dr.K.Vijayakumari, Head, Department of Botany as the Co-ordinator.

The meeting was conducted on 19.09.18 at 10.30 a.m. The Principal Dr.P.Ranganathan, preside over the function. Dr.K.Vijayakumari had welcomed the gathering. The chief guest Dr.M.Padma Sorna Subramanian, Research officer-Botany, Scientist II, Siddha Medicinal Plants Garden, Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) Ministry of Ayush, Govt of India, Mettur Dam gave a special talk on “Utilization of Medicinal Plants’’. The Chief Guest, Principal and the Coordinator planted Saplings in the college premises.

He appreciated today’s awareness on usage of herbal medicine among people to avoid side-effects. The Tamil proverb “Medicine as food and food as medicine” was explained clearly to inculcate natural food habits in the students. In Tamilnadu nearly 2000 Crores worth herbal plants are exported every year. These plants were not only rich in medicinal value but also edible to eat and widely used in beauty, dyeing and aromatic manufacturing industries.

It is pleasure that the farmers of Salem and Attur cultivate, export more and more herbal plants by knowing their medicinal value.

List of Staff Members