PhD Program
The mission of our PhD program is to transform the department into a centre for knowledge generation and excellence. Thrust areas of research are Biodiversity and its Conservation, identification of Bio-active Compounds from plants, Nanomaterial Fabrication through plants and Nutrient Absorption and Homeostasis by plants. Our research is oriented to deliver Plant-based Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Value Added Plant Products and Environment-friendly Methods to Synthesise Nanomaterials. This centre is also trying to develop innovative agricultural practices that support sustainable development. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Biodiversity Monitoring are also undertaken for helping the community outside. The centre is also organising training programs in various fields of expertise for students, teachers and researchers outside the college as part of its extension activities.
Recognized Research Guides
Dr. Shaiju P.N. (Taxonomy & Reproductive Botany)
Dr. B. Sinilal (Plant Physiology & Biochemistry)
Dr. A.S. Rubin Jose (Plant Biotechnology)
Completed external funded projects
- ‘Studies on the marine brown algal species of Kerala
Principal Investigator: Dr. Sophiammal Nettar P
Funded by UGC - ‘Improvement of infrastructural facilities in Botanical Garden’ Principal Investigator : Dr. Thomas Bennans
Funded by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India - Collection, Database Preparation, Micropropagation and Conservation of Mangroves of Kollam District
Principal Investigator : Dr. Rubin Jose
Funded by University Grants Commission - ‘Stigmatic area organization as an aid in inter-specific systematics of the genus Thottea Rottb. (Aristolochiaceae) from the Western Ghats’.
Principal Investigator : Dr. Shaiju P.N.
Funded by University Grants Commission - “Establishment of callus culture of Tylophora indica Merrill and phytochemical investigation” Principal Investigator : Dr. Dintu K P
Funded by Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment
LIST OF RESEARCH SCHOLARS
| Sl. No | Name of the scholar | Name of the supervisor | Title |
| 1 | SAYOOJIA K.S. | Dr SHAIJU P.N. | Gynostemium morphology and its implications in the reproductive biology of the genus Thottea rottb. (Aristolochiaceae) from the western ghats |
| 2 | SOORYA S.S. KUMAR | Dr SHAIJU P.N. | Pandemonium in flowering phenology: a case study in Cassia fistula Linn. |
| 3 | ATHIRA M. | Dr SHAIJU P.N. | Systematic documentation, phytochemical analysis and comparative toxicological evaluation of Thottea siliquosa (Lam.) Ding hou with tribal herbal preparations of Kerala |
| 4 | SIJI V | Dr B Sinilal | Development of suspension Cell culture system for plant mediator gold nanoparticle synthesis |
| 5 | SUBASH C P | Dr SHAIJU P.N. | Taxonomic investigation on intra-family relationship in Vitaceae |
| 6 | DEVI S | Dr B Sinilal | Transformation of leguminous cover crops with zinc transporter for heavy metal extraction from soil |
| 7 | RENJU AMMU JOSEPH | Dr A. S. RUBIN JOSE | Tissue culture and transformation studies in Withania sominifera(L.) Dunal for the exploitation of secondary metabolites using nanoparticles |
| 8 | AISWARYA S | Dr A. S. RUBIN JOSE | Tissue culture and transformation studies Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni for the exploitation of stevioside |
| 9 | RAMSIYA A | Dr A. S. RUBIN JOSE | In vitro studies for micropropagation and exploitation of aristolactam from Aristolochia bracteata Retz. |
| 10 | RESHMA BENSON | Dr A. S. RUBIN JOSE | In vitro propagation and caryophyllene production in Aristolochia krisagathra Sivar. & Pradeep |
| 11 | PADMASREE | Dr B Sinilal | |
| 12 | ALAN ACHANKUNJU | Dr B Sinilal |
INFRASTRUCTURE & FACILITIES
Department of Botany has ICT enabled classrooms & labs. It has a tissue culture lab for micropropagation and suspension cell culture maintenance, Computer lab for training in Bioinformatics, a Museum with rare botanic specimens, collection of Herbaria and Xylarium and a botanic garden with green house. Cryotome, Fluorescent & Stereo Zoom microscopes, Gel Documentation system, UV/VIS Spectrophotometer with Nano-drop cell, Plant Growth Chamber, Nano-Pure water purification system, Refrigerated High Speed Centrifuge, Tissue Homogenizer, Incubator-shaker, Deep freezer and Gradient Thermal cycler are few of the sophisticated instruments in our research lab.
PUBLICATIONS