Botany
The Department
Department was started in 1957 offering B.Sc. in Botany. It was raised to the post-graduate level in 1966 offering M.Sc. in Botany. The Department was recognized as a research department in the year 1986. A third course was started in 1999 offering B.Sc. in Vocational Botany with Food Microbiology as the vocational subject. A fourth course was started under the wings of the Department, M.Sc. Microbiology (Self-Financing) and the then head of the department was the Coordinator.
Botany Association
The Department association is a social platform for the students of the Department of Botany of the Mar Thoma College with noble objectives. The association serves as a platform for the students to develop their Skills, Talents, Scientific temper and Scientific Knowledge in the subject and its allied areas. It is also a platform for initiatives of the student collective, with an environmental concern. This forum also functions as an arena for students to showcase their artistic talent, organizational skill, leadership potential, and capabilities
Facilities
- Botanical Garden
- Medicinal Garden
- Shanthivanam
- Vidhyavanam
- Orchidarium
- Herbarium
- Herbal Garden and RET Conservatory
- Regional Herbarium( Fungi) ( MTCHT)
- Research Lab
Faculty
Former Faculty
| 1. Prof. Koshy Abraham | HOD | 1957-81 |
| 2. Prof. PC. George | HOD | 1958-81 |
| 3. Prof. Koshy Cherian | HOD | 1960-99 |
| 4. Prof. P.C. Abraham | 1966-99 | |
| 5. Prof. Abraham Raju | 1967-99 | |
| 6. Prof. N Jacob Mathew | 1967-2000 | |
| 7. Prof. Mathew Varkey | 1968-2000 | |
| 8. Dr. P.G. Abraham | 1969-95 | |
| 9. Prof. Annamma Thomas P | HOD | 1969-2002 |
| 10. Prof. Alexander Mathew | 1970-2002 | |
| 11. Prof. Thomas K K | 1974-2004 | |
| 12. Prof. Thomas Mathew | HOD | 1977-2010 |
| 13. Prof. Accamma Varghese | 1981-2000 | |
| 14. Dr. Koshy Abraham | 1981-2009 | |
| 15. Prof. Thampi Mathew | 1981-2007 | |
| 16. Dr. Mary Chacko | HOD | 1993-2013 |
| 17. Dr. Elizabeth T. Mangatt | HOD | 1993-2018 |
| 18. Dr. Manju Philip | HOD | 1993-2019 |
| 19. Dr. E. A. Siril | 2004-2005 | |
| 20. Dr. Mathews T. Thelly | 2004-2013 | |
| 21. Mr. Joby Joseph | 2009-2013 |
Alumni
Every year, on 26th of January, ‘Alumni Meet’ of the Department is conducted on the College Campus. Former Teachers, Students and Faculty actively partake in the meeting. These meetings helps the Department to refresh the relationship with its Alumni
Research
Thrust Areas of research:- Microbiology, Biotechnology, Mycology, Taxonomy, Phycology, Ethnobotany, Biochemistry & Physiology.
The department was recognized as a research department in the year 1986.
Research Exposure-50% of the current faculty members are Ph.D. holders. Among those remaining, 40% are already actively involved in research.
Research Guides:-
- Prof. (Dr.) Neeta N. Nair (In House Faculty): Area: Mycology, Phycology, Environmental Biology
- Dr. Jacob Thomas (In House Faculty): Area: Mycology, Fungal Taxonomy, Plant Pathology, Angiosperm Taxonomy
- Dr. Mathews T. Thelly (External Guide): Area: Molecular Biology, Biochemistry
- Dr. Anil Kumar K.K. (External Guide): Area: Microbiology, Biochemistry
Consultancy Services
| Organization | Programme |
| Pushpagiri College of Pharmcy, Tiruvalla | Plant Identification and Authentication Service |
| Consultancy-Nazreth College of Pharmacy, Thiruvalla | Plant Identification and Authentication Service |
| Floral Wealth Identification | National Homeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health, Research institute in Kurichy, Kerala (Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India) |
| Research Departments and PG students of Various Colleges | – Fungus Identification – Microbiological analysis of water |
MoUs
- MOU with Microbiology Division of Cashew Export Promotion Council of India, Kollam – On the job training for students for B. Sc Botany Model Ii Students and Microbiology based training for B. Sc Botany Model I and Model II Vocational Botany ( Food Microbiology)
- MOU with KAU Vellanikkara – M.Sc. Dissertation Project
- MOU-Pine Apple Research Institute, Vazhakkulam- M.Sc. Dissertation Project
Collaborations
- Collaboration with Dept. of Forests and Wildlfie, Govt. of Kerala – Maitaining Miawaki Forest (Vidhyavanam)
- New York Botanical Garden – MTCHT Herbarium
Academic Enrichment Programmes
Microbiological analysis of food and water
Started during the academic year 2020- 21.
34 students were registered, registered students were given 20 hours theory classes and 15 hours practical training on microbiological quality analysis of food and water. Practical session was conducted by CEPCI, Kollam. After the completion of course, Certificates were issued to each students.
