Department of Botany

About the Department

The Department of Botany, Murkong Selek College, is committed to providing quality education in plant sciences while fostering scientific curiosity, environmental awareness, and research aptitude among students. As one of the science departments of Murkong Selek College, Jonai, the department offers undergraduate education under the affiliation of Dibrugarh University and strives to build a strong foundation in both theoretical and practical aspects of Botany.

The department emphasizes student-centred teaching, hands-on laboratory training, field studies, and biodiversity-based learning to enhance the understanding of plant diversity, ecology, taxonomy, physiology, genetics, microbiology, biotechnology, and environmental science. Students are encouraged to participate in seminars, workshops, field excursions, awareness programmes, and research-oriented activities that promote scientific thinking and environmental stewardship.

Equipped with dedicated laboratory facilities and experienced faculty members, the Department of Botany aims to nurture competent graduates capable of pursuing higher education, research, and careers in academia, environmental management, agriculture, forestry, biotechnology, and allied life sciences. Through its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement, the department continues to contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of plant resources and the rich biodiversity of Assam and the North-East region.

Courses Offered

The Department of Botany offers undergraduate education under the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) as per the curriculum of Dibrugarh University. The department provides multidisciplinary, skill-oriented, and research-focused education in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

B.Sc. (FYUGP) in Botany - Major (Core): A four-year undergraduate programme leading to UG Certificate, UG Diploma, UG Degree, and UG Honours with Research Degree depending on the completed year of study.

Botany Minor Programme: Botany is offered as a Minor subject for students pursuing other Major disciplines.

Generic Elective Courses (GEC): Natural Resource Management, Plant Diversity and Human Welfare, and Ethnobotany.

Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC): Tea Plantation and Management, Mushroom Culture Technology, Biofertilizers, Conservation and Cultivation of Orchids, Nursery and Gardening, and Medicinal Botany.

Research and Experiential Learning: The programme incorporates field studies, internship/project work, research methodology and research ethics, dissertation work for Honours with Research, and Discipline Specific Electives (DSE).

Major Areas of Study

Algae, Fungi, Bryophytes and Pteridophytes.

Morphology and Reproduction of Spermatophytes.

Cell Biology.

Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Plant Ecology and Phytogeography.

Angiosperm Systematics.

Plant Anatomy and Embryology.

Genetics and Evolution.

Plant Physiology and Metabolism.

Plant Breeding and Crop Improvement.

Microbiology and Immunology.

Plant Pathology and Crop Protection.

Economic Botany.

Plant Biotechnology, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics.

Analytical Techniques in Plant Science.

Environmental Biology.

Advanced Cell Biology and Molecular Biology.

Biodiversity and Bioprospecting.

Biosafety, Bioethics and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Curriculum and Learning

The curriculum integrates classroom teaching, laboratory practicals, field-based learning, internships, research projects, seminars, and skill development, enabling students to pursue careers in higher education, research, biotechnology, agriculture, forestry, environmental management, and other allied life sciences.

Facilities

The Department of Botany, Murkong Selek College is committed to providing an enriching academic environment through well-equipped laboratories, modern teaching facilities, and field-based learning opportunities. The department emphasizes experiential learning, research orientation, and skill development in accordance with the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) of Dibrugarh University.

Laboratory Facilities: Well-equipped undergraduate Botany laboratory for practical classes; compound and dissecting microscopes; instruments for plant physiology, microbiology, and ecological experiments; permanent slides, preserved specimens, charts, botanical models, glassware, chemicals, and reagents.

Herbarium and Museum: Departmental herbarium, preserved plant specimens, and museum resources including algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms, economically important plants, and medicinal plant materials.

ICT-Enabled Teaching: ICT-supported classroom teaching using LCD projectors, digital presentations, online databases, and multimedia educational materials.

Departmental Library: Textbooks, reference books, practical manuals, floras, and scientific journals to support undergraduate learning and project work.

Field-Based Learning: Botanical field excursions, plant identification, biodiversity documentation, ecological studies, herbarium preparation, and educational visits to forests, wetlands, botanical gardens, research institutions, and agricultural establishments.

Skill Development: Practical training in mushroom cultivation, nursery and gardening, tea plantation management, medicinal plants, biofertilizers, orchid conservation, specimen collection, herbarium preparation, laboratory techniques, and scientific documentation.

Research and Academic Activities: Student seminars, group discussions, workshops, awareness programmes, project-based learning, internships, field projects, undergraduate research activities, conferences, science exhibitions, and environmental awareness programmes.

Green Campus Resources: Use of plant resources available within the college campus for practical demonstrations and ecological studies, along with biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, plantation drives, and extension activities.