BOTA 42066

>< Type/ Status : Compulsory
>< Course title : Economic Botany and Plant Breeding
>< Prerequisite(s) : All core course units in Botany
>< Objectives: At the end of the course, the student `will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the:
(i) Botanical aspects of economically important plants, and potential of plant based industries.
(ii) Principles and methods involved in plant breeding.
>< Course content:

Economic Botany: Plant based industries: Pharmaceuticals/ food and beverages, cosmetics, insecticides and pesticides. Biochemical resources of plants, natural products as drugs: production of drug base natural products.

Plant Breeding: Evolution of crop plants: geography, cytogenetics, features and patterns of crop evolution. Mating systems of crop plants, male sterility, self incompatibility. Genetic aspects of plant breeding. Plant breeding methods and their objectives. Breeding methods for cross pollinating and self pollinating crop plants. Special techniques in plant breeding.

>< Methodology : Lectures, tutorials, practical assignments, seminars and visits to research institutes.
>< Scheme of evaluation: End of course written examination and assignment reports
>< Recommended reading:
01. Simpson, B B and Ogorzaly, M C (1995). Economic Botany. McGraw- Hill.
02. Hill, A F (1972). Economic Botany. A Text Book of Useful Plants and Plant Products. McGraw-Hill.
03. Wills, R B H; Lee, T H; Graham, D; McGlasson, W B and Hall, E G (1998). Post Harvest: an introduction to the physiology & handling of fruits, vegetables & ornamentals. CAB International.
04. Allard, R. W. (1966). Principles of Plant Breeding. John Wiley & Sons. New York.
05. Kaufman, P B; Cseke. L J; Warber, S; Duke, J A and Brielmann, H L (1999). Natural products from plants. CRC Press, London.

Back