Calicut University Botany Department

Can you tell me about the Thrust Areas for Research for Ph.D. Program offered by Department of Post-Graduate Studies and Research in Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala?

[Rajkumar Agarwal]

The Department of Post-Graduate Studies and Research in Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala aims to achieve quality in research and teaching by promoting higher education and improving human resources of the educationally and economically backward Malabar region of India.

Research Collaborations of the Department

The Netherlands National Herbarium
Gandhigram Rural University
Indian Cardamom Research Institute
Central Coffee Research Institute
UPASI Tea Research Institute
Kerala Forest Research Institute
Indian Institute of Science
Delhi University
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology
Tropical Botanical Garden & Research Institute
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

Thrust Areas

Angiosperm Taxonomy: Extensive studies on flowering plants of India. Floristic surveys, Revisions and Systematics of several plant families and genera. More than 80 new species were identified and reported.

Bioinformatics: Studies on genomics and allied fields using tools of bioinformatics.
Plant Biotechnology: Standardization of tissue culture protocols of several plants. Study and exploitation of clonal variations Studies on molecular systematics

Cell and Molecular Biology: Studies on chromosome imaging and karyomorphometry; cytotoxic, mutagenic, antimutagenic and anticancer activities; studies on genetic polymorphism; phytochemical analyses of plant extracts and essential oils using GC-MS and LC-MS; bioactivity studies using microbicidal and mosquito larvicidal parameters.

Environmental Science: Studies on ecology, plant diversity and environmental science with thrust on biofertilizers, phytoremediation and bioaccumulation.

Enzyme Technology: Studies on secondary metabolite production, transformation and enzyme biotechnology.

Fungal Diversity: Studies on mushrooms and other macro fungi. Extensive survey, documentation and systematic studies two new genera and more than 100 new species identified and reported.

Genetics and Plant Breeding: Studies on the genetics and breeding of rice, spices, aromatic plants, plantation crops, medicinal plants and ornamental gingers.

Plant Diversity: Studies on biodiversity and taxonomy of Pteridophytes and Bryophytes of Kerala Presently focusing on algal and cyanobacterial research

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry: Studies on the physiology of germination, dormancy and flowering. Studies on stress physiology, enzymology and eco physiology