Dept. of Botany

Department of Botany established in the year 1967 was nourished & developed under the able leadership of several renowned botanists of the country noticeably Dr. S.P. Singh, Prof. K.S. Bhargava, Prof. C.L. Mandhar , Prof. J.S. Singh, Prof. R.S. Mehrotra, Prof. M.L.H. Kaul, Prof. S.N. Bhambie, Prof. L.C. Lamba, Prof. Keshav Trehan, Prof. D. Mukherjee, Prof. N. K. Matta, Prof. S.R. Gupta, Prof. Ashok Aggarwal and Prof. B.D. Vashistha. Presently, the department has two Professors (Dr. Narender Singh and Dr. Neelu Sood), one Associate Professors (Dr. C.B. Singh) and two Assistant Professors (Dr. Somveer Jakhar and Dr. Yogesh Kumar). At present, Prof. Neelu Sood is Chairperson of the department.

VISION
The vision of the department is to develop scientific and technical capabilities to become centre of excellence in plant sciences  so as to provide expert services to research organizations, industries and educational institutes in Phycology, Plant Tissue Culture, Ecology,  Biodiversity characterization and conservation,  Stress physiology, Molecular biology, Seed storage proteins, Ethnobotany and Natural plant product development. The aim is to develop institutional linkages and implement effective management systems for best human resource generation.

INFORMATION ON RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Current Areas of Research

• Microbial diversity and cyanobacteria as biofertilizers.
• Assessment and evaluation of Enthnomedicinal knowledge in Haryana and Rajasthan.
• Comparative study of polluted and nonpolluted sites for natural product elicitation and development.
• Eco-rehabilitation of salt-affected soils.
• Carbon sequestration in agroforestry and zero-tillage agriculture.
• Floristic diversity and digital database of flora of Haryana.
• Micropropagation of medicinal and economically important plants.
• Physiological aspects of crop plants
• Natural Plant Product Development.
• Regulation of Senescence, plant growth regulators and abiotic stress.
• Vegetation Cabon Pool Assessment in Forest Ecosystems of Haryana

INFORMATION ON ACHIEVEMENTS:

In the present day context of global climate change, and its impact on biodiversity, we are studying biodiversity of different regions of North India Medicinal and aromatic plants represent an emerging area of research in the department with a focus on agrotechnology, ethnobotany, plant identification, and utilization. In vitro propagation protocols have been developed for many important medicinal plants. Biological diversity and the indigenous plants are being analyzed for bioprospecting. A Patent entitled ‘Liposomes as delivery vehicles in plant cell and tissue culture has been developed by Professor Neelu Sood. It is of industrial application for in vitro scale up production of secondary metabolites and biopharmaceuticals of therapeutic significance. A novel approach towards ‘Harvest from pollution and PCTK (Persons Carrying Traditional Knowledge) concepts have been strengthened through research in the department.

International Awards/Achievements of faculty members:

1. Prof. Narender Singh, Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship, Royal     Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, UK

2.   Prof. Neelu Sood, Salzburg Seminars Global Alumni, Austria

Achievements of Students:

It is an honor for Kurukshetra University that 27 students of Botany Department have successfully qualified National level competitions such as NET-JRF (9 students), NET (6 students), GATE (8 students) and ARS-NET (4 students) during 2018-19. Students have a high track record of placements in research and academic insititutes.

About 700 research papers/scientific articles have been published so far in the journals of National & International repute. The department has produced about >100 Ph.D. students so far in the various disciplines of Botany. Several research projects sanctioned by various funding agencies have been successfully completed in the department. Many faculty members have visited abroad for higher studies & advanced training in their respective areas as well as for participating in International conferences/congresses. The faculty members also hold the membership of various National and International associations & societies. Several eminent Professors & Scientists from various other Universities/ Institutions have been regularly visiting this department and have delivered lectures useful to our PG level students. Research Scholars & faculty members of the department are carrying out research in collaboration with many premier institutes of the country.

Botanical Garden & Herbal Garden:

The Department has a Botanical and Herbal garden along with a state of art Twin Glass House facility having a collection of rare and economically important  plants such as  Elaeocarpus sp. (Rudraksh), Ephedra, Ginkgo biloba, Ruscus, Rauwolfia serpentina, Aurocaria, Buddleja (Butterfly plant) etc., Bambusetum facility is also under development. Besides seasonal plants number of foliage plants are raised, multiplied in nursery and transplanted. A small Forest prototype has been raised for forest ecosystem and ecological experimental studies of postgraduate students.

Departmental  library has a collection of approximately 2000 classic and recent books in Botany along with M.Phil and Ph.D. theses in departmental library . The department has very healthy academic atmosphere and a congenial teacher-taught relationship.

INFORMATION ON SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES HELD RECENTLY :

Various Achievements of Students of Botany:

1.Rostrum   Final                                                           1^stPosition             Tanya Kaushal Msc

2.National  Level Online Ppt. Presentation                    Participation          Aashish   Msc. Final

3.Online  Inter departmental Comp. 

   Slogan                                                                          2^nd                             Amita Msc. Final

   Essay                                                                            1^st                              Tanya   Msc. Final

   Essay                                                                            2^nd                             Priyanka Msc Pre

4. National Level Poetry  compettion                               1^st                              Tanya  Msc. Final

5. KUTIC  Project on Rosa damacenaand

  Wild varieties                                                                 Rs.70000                    Amit Phogat

6. Research paper In vitro seed germination                   2^nd                               Kavita Dhaiya

Potential of Viola canescens.(National Conference

Organized by Univ. of Rajasthan ,Jaipur)