Botany

About the Department:

The department of Botany was established in June 1992. The subject Botany is offered to the F. Y. and S. Y. B. Sc. degree students. Infrastructure of the Department consists of one working laboratory with well equipped instruments and equipments for the practical of General Botany.

Scope and Importance of Botany

As with other life forms in biology, plant life can be studied from different perspectives, from the molecular, genetic and biochemical level through organelles, cells, tissues, organs, individuals, plant populations, and communities of plants. At each of these levels a botanist might be concerned with the classification (taxonomy), structure (anatomy), or function (physiology) of plant life.

Historically, botany covers all organisms that were not considered to be animals. Some of these "plant-like" organisms include fungi (studied in mycology), bacteria and viruses (studied in microbiology), and algae (studied in phycology). Most algae, fungi, and microbes are no longer considered to be in the plant kingdom. However, attention is still given to them by botanists, and bacteria, fungi, and algae are usually covered in introductory botany courses.

The study of plants has importance for a number of reasons. Plants are a fundamental part of life on earth. They generate the oxygen, food, fibres, fuel and medicine that allow higher life forms to exist. Plants also absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, a minor greenhouse gas that in large amounts can affect global climate. It is believed that the evolution of plants has changed the global atmosphere of the earth early in the earth's history and paleobotanists study ancient plants in the fossil record. A good understanding of plants is crucial to the future of human societies as it allows us to:

• Produce food to feed an expanding population

• Understand fundamental life processes

• Produce medicine and materials to treat diseases and other ailments

• Understand environmental changes

In many different ways, plants can act a little like the 'miners canary', an early warning system alerting us to important changes in our environment. In addition to these practical and scientific reasons, plants are extremely valuable as recreation for millions of people who enjoy gardening, horticultural and culinary uses of plants every day.

Faculty:-

Sr. No.

Name

Qualification

Designation

1.

Dr. S. D. Pingle

M. Sc. Ph. D.

Principal

2.

Prof. B. S. Gaikwad

M. Sc.

Assistant Professor

3.

Dr. G. S. Shinde

M. Sc. Ph. D.

Assistant Professor

Laboratory Staff:-

Sr. No.

Name

Designation

Qualification

1.

Mr. Kishor R. Pardeshi

Lab. Asst.

B.Sc.

2.

Mr. P. B. Hiragal

Lab. Attendant

H.S.C.

Department at Glance:-

· Principal Dr. S. D. Pingle is a recognized research guide of Pune University.

· 16 students awarded Ph. D. degree under the guidance of Dr. S.D. Pingle.

· 5 students are working under his guidance for Ph.D.

· 2 students have submitted their thesis to university of Pune for award.

· 3 students are awarded M. Phil. Degree under the guidance of Dr. S.D. Pingle.

· Yashwantrao Chavan Mukta Vidyapeeth has recognized Dr. Pingale as a research guide

· Dr. S. D. Pingale has won two national level awards for his research work.

· He has attended an international conference in Scotland and five international conferences in India.

· He visited Que Botanical Garden, England for research work.

· He is member of various bodies of University of Pune.

· Two major and two minor project are to his credit.

· Major research project is ongoing.

· 103 research papers are published in various national and international journals.

· Working as referee for M. Phil. And Ph.D. students for Madras University Chennai and North Maharashtra University Jalgaon.

· Organized one national seminar on ‘ Recent trends in Botany'.

· The faculty has contributed to and active participated in syllabus restructuring of University of Pune.

· A well equipped laboratories.

· Dr. G. S. Shinde has been awarded Ph. D. and Prof. B. S. Gaikwad is working for Ph.D. and it is in final stage.

· Students are guided and supported for research activity in the department.

· Dr. G. S. Shinde's research is useful for the farmers to adopt better farm management practices using B.G.A. as bio-fertilizer.