Botany

Dr. K. A. Raveesha
Designation	Professor & Chairman
Email id	kar@botany.uni-mysore.ac.in
Phone No	+91-821-2419758; 2419759

Brief History of 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 the major groups of Plant Kingdom. The ‘Herbarium’ of the department is one of the 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 Botany. The faculty members have successfully guided 140 Ph. D’s so far, authored 16 text books and more than 1350 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 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.

Departmental Research Activities

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 indica and A. sessilis), Santalaceae, Lauraceae, etc.
Isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds with neutraceutical properties from water spinach (Ipomoea aqutica)

MEDICINAL PLANTS 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

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 (New sp.).
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

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
Molecular Plant Taxonomy
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
Plant pathology and Molecular biology
Environmental Biology and Molecular Biology

Status of the Department:

Sl.No.	Status	Phase	Thrust Area
1	FIST	Level-I	To strengthen both teaching and research in the following thrust areas Plant Systematics Plant Molecular Biology Cytogenetics Microbiology and Phytopathology Tissue Culture and Morphogenesis
2	UGC Non SAP	I Phase	To strengthen infrastructure in the Department
3	UGC- RFSMS	I Phase	Award of three meritorious Research Fellowships to Researchers of Botany Department

Chairs/ Fellowship/ 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 Fisrt Rank in M. Phil. Botany.

Best Practices:

A unique facility available in the Department offering consultancy and extension service to farmers and Agro processing units on general crop husbandry, plant disease diagnosis and their management.
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.
Providing a platform for seminars and specialist lectures on topics of current research interests by visiting by foreign and Indian and educators.
Organizing colloquia and symposia on thrust areas of plant sciences in collaboration with other scientific bodies.
Exposing the members to various industrial applications of botany through visits to industries, increasing the scope for academy industry interaction.
Organizing educative exhibitions and demonstrations to satisfy the public’s curiosity.
Conducting quiz and poster presentation programmes to increase the general awareness and popularize the subject among plant lovers.
Colloquium on Recent Trends in Plant Sciences
Invited subject Experts in Thrust Areas of Botany
Interaction among fellow scientists, students, research Scholars
Workshops are conducted on Techniques in Molecular Biology to enrich the practical skills of students

Awards/ Honors received by individual teachers

Sl.No.	Name	Name of the Award/ Recognitions	When awarded	Awarding Agency/ Institution
1	Prof. T.C. Shivashankara Murthy	National Overseas Scholarships for studies abroad	1980-1984	Government of India
2	Prof. T.C. Shivashankara Murthy	Vice- Chancellor (Acting)	2008 (19-02-2-8 To 04-11-2008)	His Excellency Governor of Karnataka
3	Prof. T.C. Shivashankara Murthy	Dean, Faculty of Science & Technology	2006- 2008	University Authorities University of Mysore
4	Prof. T.C. Shivashankara Murthy	Registrar (Evaluation) University of Mysore	1988-89	University Authorities University of Mysore
5	Prof. K.A. Raveesha	MICON-International Award for Best paper in Agriculture Microbiology	1994	DFRL, Mysore
6	Prof. K.A. Raveesha	Best oral presentation award	2005	National seminar on recent trends in plant diseases and Management
7	Prof. K.A. Raveesha	Best Poster Paper Award	2009	NCPBB 2009, University of Mysore
8	Dr. G.R. Janardhana	INSA visiting fellowship	2002	Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi
9	Dr. G.R. Janardhana	DST-Young Scientist Award	2003	Dept. of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi
10	K.M. Jayaramaiah	Prajarathna Award	2002	Journalists Forum, Karnataka for Environmental awareness
11	Dr. K.N. Amruthesh	Young Scientists' Award	2001	Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), New Delhi
12	Dr. K.N. Amruthesh	Smt. Guman Devi Best Scientist Award	2002	Society of Mycology and Plant Patholgoy, Rajasthan
13	Dr. K.N. Amruthesh	P.P. Singhal, Pesticide India Award	2004	Society of Mycology and Plant Patholgoy, Rajasthan
14	Dr. K.N. Amruthesh	DST-Young Scientist Award	2006	Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi
15	Dr. K.N. Amruthesh	Kannada Rajyothsava State Govt. Award	2007	National Festival Committee, Government of Karnataka, Mandya District
	Dr. M.S. Sudarshana	Best research paper award		UGC National Seminar, Univ. of Mysore, Dept. of Biotechnology

Individual Teachers on-going Research Projects

Sl. No.	Name	Research Project Title	Funding Agency	Amount Sanctioned	Date of Commencement	Expected Date of Completion
1	Prof. K.A. Raveesha	Isolation and characterization of antibacterial and antifungal active principles from medicinal plants for the management of pathogenic microbes	UGC, New Delhi		1.04.2009	31.3. 2012
2	Dr. K.N. Amruthesh	Novel elicitors of microbial origin for the immunization of Pearl millet against downy mildew disease	DST, New Delhi	7.20	01-04-2006	31-03-2010
3	Dr. K.N. Amruthesh	Biomining of Lipid Transfer Proteins from plants and microbes and utilization of LTPs for induction of downy mildew resistance in pearl millet.	UGC, New Delhi	7.60	01-11-2007	31-03-2011
3	Dr. M.S. Nalini	Bioactive from the endophytes of medicinal plants	DST, New Delhi	5.64	2008	2011

Other information: Plant Clinic:

A unique facility available in the Department offering consultancy and extension service to farmers and Agro processing units on general crop husbandry, plant disease diagnosis and their management. 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.