DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Botany at GKSM Government college, Tanda Urmar is a dynamic hub of scientific inquiry and botanical exploration, dedicated to fostering a deep understanding of plant life and its ecological significance. Our department stands as a cornerstone in the institution's commitment to excellence in education and research.Comprising a team of accomplished faculty members with diverse expertise, the Department of Botany offers a comprehensive curriculum that spans plant physiology, ecology, taxonomy, and molecular biology. Our state-of-the-art laboratories provide students with hands-on experiences, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations and experiments.With a focus on research, the department actively engages in groundbreaking studies, contributing to the global understanding of plant sciences. Beyond academics, the department is committed to cultivating a passion for botany among students. Field trips, seminars, and workshops are integral parts of our academic calendar, providing students with exposure to the diverse world of plant life.As we nurture the next generation of botanists, our vision extends beyond the classroom, aiming to instil a sense of environmental responsibility and conservation ethics. The Department of Botany is not just an academic institution; it's a community dedicated to exploring and appreciating the marvels of the plant kingdom.

Mesembryanthemum crystallinumRanunculus sp.

Calendula officinalis

 COURSES OFFERED

B.Sc (Medical)
Duration: 3 years degree program
Eligibility: 10+2 (Medical) with 50% marks.

FACULTY  DETAILS

Qualification: M.Sc. (Hons.) Botany, M.Phil, Ph.D, GATE in Life Sciences (Qualified)
Subject Expertise: Plant Physiology, Phytoremediation, Stress Physiology and Environmental Monitoring
No. of Publications:18

Qualification: BS- MS Integrated, CSIR-NET in Life Sciences with AIR 78
Subject Expertise: Botany
No. of Publications: 01

DEPARTMENTAL FACILITIES

Department has well equippedLaboratory and Botanical Garden that provides hands-on learning experience, enhancing the practical application of theoretical knowledge.
Department Laboratory has all instruments and permanent slides (algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms etc) that are accessible to students throughout year for practical.Our collection of plant specimens, preserved, and provides a diverse representation of flora for study and analysis.The Botany lab materials ensure a rich and immersive learning experience, promoting practical skills and a deeper comprehension of botanical concepts.

Female cones of Cycas revoluta in botanical garden

DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Beyond academics, the Department of Botany encourages student participation in clubs, field trips, and conferences. Explore the rich extracurricular landscape that fosters a passion for botany, and celebrate the achievements of our students in this vibrant community.

Celebrate the achievements and accolades earned by the Department of Botany. Recognize faculty and student accomplishments, and take pride in the contributions of our notable alumni who continue to make significant impacts in the field. Various activities includes celebration of Van- Mahotsav, Sharm Daan event (Cleanliness drive for Botanical garden), environmental day celebrations, guest lectures by renowned resource persons, educational trips to Botanical Garden of GNDU Amritsar, participation of students in cultural activities at zonal and inter-zonal level.



Educational visit to Jallianwala Bagh, Mata Kaulan Botanical Garden,  Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar



Celebrations of World ozone day

Curriculum Vitae

Teaching Experience

Papers Qualified:-

- Qualified GATE (2009)
- Qualified Ph.D. Eligibility Test (2010) conducted by G.N.D.U, ASR.

Academic Qualifications:-

Techniques Known:-

Animal Tissue Culture, MTT and SRB cytotoxic assays, Flow cytometry, Confocal and Scanning Electron Microscopy, Various Antioxidant assays, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry,IRGA, Atomic absorption Spectroscopy, Electrophoresis,Chromatography

Research Experience:-

• Worked on a project report entitled “Cyclic variations in air quality of metro cities as explained by temperature and rainfall”.
• Worked on a project titled “Effect of Cobalt and nanocobalt on seedlings of Hordeum vulgare”for the award of the degree of M.Phil.-Botany.
• Delivered departmental seminars on:
  • Air Pollution: Sampling, Analysis and Instrumentation
  • Nanoparticles: Small Things with big future
  • Nanoparticle toxicity in plants
  • Effect of cobalt oxide on seedling growth of Hordeum   vulgare
  • D. research topic “Phytoremediation of cobalt with Hordeum vulagreL.using Chlorates and Chelating agents”

Computer Literacy:-

• Operating system :  WINDOWS-XP/7/8, Vista
• Application software: MS OFFICE,Minitab,Design expert
• Language : C, FoxPro

Members of Society:-

• Punjab Academy of Sciences

Conferences, Seminars & Workshops:-

• Presented poster in 40^th Annual Conference of EMSI &International Symposium on “International Conference on Environmental Mutagenesis, Carcinogenesis and Health”, at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Febuary 17-19^th,2016.
• Participated in the 5-days hands- on training cum workshop on “Electron Microscopy- Why, How and What” at Institute Instrumentation Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. Oct 19- Oct 23, 2015.
• Participated in “National Seminar on Environmental Conservation” at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. March 28, 2013.
• Participated in “National Seminar on Environmental Management” at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. March 22-23, 2012.
• Presented poster in “15^th Punjab Science Congress” at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. February 7-9, 2012.
• Presented poster in “14^th Punjab Science Congress” at Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology, Sangrur. February 7-9, 2011.
• Participated in “National Seminar on Environmental Analysis and Remediation” at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. March 22-24, 2011.
• resented paper in UGC sponsored “National seminar on Applications of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology” at BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar, Punjab. December 23-24, 2010
• Participated in 35^th Annual Conference of EMSI &International Symposium on “Mutagens and Genetic Diversity for Health and Agriculture”, at Panjab University, Chandigarh. 12 – 14 March 2010.
• Participated in Workshop cum Training on “Management of Municipal Solid & Plastic Waste”, Sponsored by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India, at Department of Botanical & Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (Punjab). April 16-17, 2009.
• Participated in UGC sponsored National Seminar on Environment and Sustainable Development, at Department of Botanical & Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (Punjab). November 3-4, 2009
• Attended Seminar on “Ecological Challenges & Social Responsibilities”organized by all India Pingalwara Charitable Society, Amritsar. August 6, 2008.
• Participated in UGC sponsored National Seminar on “Depleted Uranium: Environmental Hazards”, at Department of Botanical & Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (Punjab). April 5, 2008.

Extra Curricular Activities:-

• Class Representative (M.Sc. Hons. Botany)– 2008-09
• Scholar Representative – 2012
• Got 3^rd position in Intradepartmental badminton match

Abstracts published:-

Sonia. and Thukral, A.K.(2011). In vitro evaluation for the toxicity of Cobalt (II,III) oxide nanopowder on growth parameters of Hordeum vulgareL.In: 14^th Punjab Science Congress. p.92. Feburary 7-9, 2011. Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Sangrur.
Sonia. and Thukral, A.K. (2011). Nanoparticle Toxicity in plants. In: National seminar on Environmental Analysis and Remediation. p.62. March 21-22, 2011. Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
Sonia. and Thukral, A.K.(2012). In vitro evaluation of the toxicity of cobalt (II,III) oxide nanopowder on biochemical parameters of H.vulgare L. seedlings. In:15^th Punjab Science Congress,GNDU, Amritsar. February 7-9. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
Sonia. and Thukral, A.K.(2014).Reclaiming heavy metal contaminated soils using phytoremediation. In:UGC sponsored National Seminar on Perspectives in Plant and Environmental Sciences. March 11-12.Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences.Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
Sonia. (2016). Carcinopreventive Properties of some transition metal complexes: an overview. In: International Conference on Environmental Mutagenesis, Carcinogenesis and Health,40^th Annual Meeting of EMSI. Feburary 17-19. Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences.Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

Research Papers/ Book Chapter:-

1. Kumar, R. Mahey, S., Kumar, V., Arora, R., Sharma, A., Arora, S. A review on antiproliferative activity of plant extracts against breast cancer cell lines. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 10 (7): 1000-11. (2019)
2. 2. Kumar, R., Arora, R., Mahajan, J., Mahey, S., Arora, S. Polyphenols from Cutch tree (Acacia catechu Willd.): Normalize in vitro oxidative stress and exerts antiproliferative activity. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology. 60: (2017)
3. Mahey, Sonia., Kumar, R., Arora, R., Mahajan, J., Arora, S., Bhardwaj, R. and Thukral, A.K. (2016). Efect of cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate on some human cancer cell lines. Springerplus. 5: 1-14.
4. Sonia. and Thukral, A.K.(2014). Effects of Macro- and Nano-cobalt Oxide Particles on Barley Seedlings and Remediation of Cobalt Chloride Toxicity Using Sodium Hypochlorite. International Journal of Plant and Soil Science. 6:751-762.
5. Sharma, R., Bhardwaj, R., Kapoor, D., Sonia., Rattan A., Kumar, V., Sharma, A., Thukral, A.K., Kaur, Satwinderjeet. and Arora, N.(2015). In: Photosynthesis Functional Genomics, Physiological processes and Environmental issues, pp.185-210. Nova Publisher group New York.
6. Mahey, S., Kumar, R., Arora, R, Mahajan, J., Arora, S., Bharadwaj, R and Thukral A.K. (2015). Effect of cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate on some human cancer cell lines. SpringerPlus. 5(1): 930. (2016).
7. .Kumar, R., Arora, R., Mahajan, J., Mahey, S., Arora, S. Polyphenols from Cutch tree (Acacia catechu Willd.): Normalize in vitro oxidative stress and exerts antiproliferative activity. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology. 60: (2017).
8. Kumar, R., Arora, R., Kumar, V., Mahey, S., Arora, S. UHPLC Analysis and Antioxidant Activities of Hexane fraction from Acacia catechu Willd. International Journal of Tropical Agriculture. 35(2): 389-93 (2017).
9. Kumar, R. Mahey, S., Kumar, V., Arora, R., Sharma, A., Arora, S. A review on antiproliferative activity of plant extracts against breast cancer cell lines. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 10 (7): 3144-3154. (2019)
10. Kumar, R., Mahey, S., Arora, R., Mahajan, J., Arora, S. Insights into biological properties of less explored bark of industrially important Acacia catechu Willd. Industrial Crops and Products. 138: 1-9. (2019; IF-4.2).
11. Mahey, S., Kumar, R., Kumar, V., Sharma, R., Sharma, M., Bhardwaj, R., Thukral, A.K. Maleic Acid and EDTA mediated extenuation of Co(II) stress in Hordeum vulgareseedlings. Biotech Research innovation. (2019)
12. .Mahey, S., Kumar, R., Sharma, M., Kumar, V., & Bhardwaj, R. (2020). A critical review on toxicity of cobalt and its bioremediation strategies. SN Applied Sciences, 2(7), 1-12.
13. .Kiran, K., Mahey, S., Sharma, A., Kumar, V., Sharma, A., Arora, S., Bhardwaj, R., Kumar, R. Post-infectional changes associated with the progression of leaf spot disease in Calotropis procera. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology.  112: 101519.
14. .Kumar, V., Pandit, S., Kumar, R., Mahey, S. (2020). Appraisal of tissue compartmentalized metal(loid)s uptake by rice: A field study. Arabian Journal of Geosciences.  13: 1221.
15. .Kaur, J., Mahey, S., Ahluwalia, P., Joshi, R., & Kumar, R. (2022). Role of Plant Secondary Metabolites as Anticancer and Chemopreventive Agents. In Plant Secondary Metabolites (pp. 97-119). Springer, Singapore.
16. .Rajdeep Singh, Jasmine and Dr. Sonia. 2023. To study the effect of different chemicals and packing materials on the physiological and organoleptic characteristics of Mosambi(Citrus limetta) fruit. International journal of Horticulture and food science. 5 (1): 87-90.
17. Rajdeep Singh, Jasmine and Dr. Sonia. 2023. To evaluate the effect of different pre-chemical treatments and packing materials on the fruit quality of mosambi (Citruslimetta). International journal of Horticulture and food science. 5 (1): 91-95.
18. Jasmine, Rimpy Dhanda and Dr. Sonia. 2023. Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis of grain yield in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): A Review. Indian journal of applied research. 13 (10): 1-3.

Name of Supervisors:-
- Dr. Ashwani Kumar Thukral, Department of Botany, GNDU, ASR.
- Dr. Renu Bhardwaj, Department of Botany, GNDU, ASR

Tasks and Duties:-

• Deliver lectures on various botany topics, ensuring clarity and engagement.
• Conduct practical laboratory sessions to provide hands-on experience and reinforce theoretical concepts.
• Engage in botanical research, contributing to the academic community through publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Collaborate with colleagues within the department and across disciplines for interdisciplinary research projects.
• Actively participate in departmental meetings, committees, and academic planning activities.
• Conduct and administer examinations, serve as an invigilator, undertake accurate marking and grading, ensure academic integrity
• Stay updated on advancements in botanical sciences by attending conferences, workshops, and professional development opportunities.
• Serve as the AISHE Incharge, ensuring compliance with AISHE guidelines and maintaining accurate institutional data.
• Actively participate as a member of the College Campus and Beautification Committee.
• Serve as a member of the Multi-Media Committee, contributing to the integration of technology in teaching and learning.
• Contribute as a member of the Career Counseling and Placement Cell Committee.
• Provide guidance to students on career paths in the field of botany and assist in organizing placement-related activities.

Curriculum Vitae

Academics Tasks and Duties: 

• Develop and deliver engaging lectures, lab sessions, and field studies in botany for undergraduate students.
• Advice and mentor undergraduate students in academic and research pursuits.
• Foster a positive learning environment, encouraging student participation in academic and professional activities.
• Participate in departmental and university committees, contributing to the academic community.
• Attend conferences, workshops, and training programs to stay current with botanical developments.
• Pursue professional certifications and memberships in relevant botanical societies.
• Invigilate and mark examinations as directed by the institute and the university.
• Attend and actively engage in staff meetings, providing valuable contributions to discussions.
• Take part in diverse academic events to enhance and enrich the overall academic atmosphere.

Extra-Curricular Tasks and Duties: 

• Appointed as NCC CTO with effect from 8^th Sep, 2023 for the college under the aegis PB 2 Battalion Jalandhar. Tasks include handling all the administrative work of the coy along with timely dissemination of the information to the cadets. Motivating the cadets for various outreach activities and camps is of paramount importance while handling this office.
• AISHE In charge, starting from the session 2022-23.
• Convenor for the Eco-club of the college.
• Member of the Institute Innovation Council.
• Volunteering for various activities during the Youth festivals.
• Worked as Library In charge from May, 2022 – Sep, 2023.
• Worked as NCC assistant from Dec, 2021-Sep, 2023.
• Working in various committees as directed by the Principal office from time to time.

Education:

Research Experience: 

Conferences, Webinars and Workshops: 

Accolades

• Awarded Department of Science and Technology’s INSPIRE Scholarship (2013-2018).
• Awarded National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship, State Institute of Science Education, Punjab (2009- 2012).

Proceedings and Papers

• Jasmine, Rimpy Dhanda and Dr. Sonia. 2023. Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis of grain yield in wheat (Triticum aestivum ): A Review. Indian journal of applied research. 13 (10): 1-3.