Botany Subjects List 2025: Check Semester-wise Subjects & Syllabus

Biodiversity - Mycology and Phytopathology

Students gain knowledge about the principles of plant pathology, alongside the application of these principles in controlling plant diseases.

The subject also introduces you to the world of Fungi, diving deep into its structure and functions.

It highlights the importance of microbes present in the environment.

Major topics covered in this subject are:

• Introduction to true Fungi

• Applied Mycology

• Symbiotic Associations

• Allied Fungi

• Bacterial Diseases

Plant Resource Utilisation

One of the most useful subjects in Botany, plant resource utilisation, can broadly be grouped into five categories, which are -

1. Food

2. Medicine

3. Environmental protection,

4. Construction

5. Plant germplasm.

Some critical aspects of this subject are:

• Genetic Diversity

• Phenotyping of germplasm

• Identification of valuable genes from germplasm

• Creation of new germplasm

• Mechanism study of germplasm

Plant Development and Anatomy

While Botany is the study of plants, Plant Anatomy is concerned with studying the internal structure of plants. It is one of the most important core subjects in Botany.

There have been various developments in the anatomy of plants.

This subject covers multiple topics around plant anatomy, such as

• Structure & Development of Cell Wall

• Meristems of the shoot

• Epidermis

• Secondary Xylem

• The Phloem

• Secretion in plants

Plant Taxonomy and Embryology

The purpose of plant taxonomy is to identify all kinds of plants present around us, along with their names, characteristics and distribution.

It helps in classifying and segregating the plants into specific groups. On the other hand, embryology is the branch of biology focused on the fertilisation process in plants.

It is a crucial subject for students who aspire to become future botanists.

Some common topics covered here are:

• Types of Classification - Artificial, Phylogenetic and Natural

• Engler and Prantle’s system of classification

• Plant Ovule Structures and Its Types

• Pollination and Fertilisation

• Development of Monocot and Dicot Embryos

• Polyembroyny

   

Genetics and Plant Breeding

Plant breeding implies the scientific study of changing the characteristics of plants to produce desired results.

Students are required to have detailed knowledge of the classical and latest developments in the field of genetics and plant breeding.

This subject teaches you the following:

• Principles of Genetics

• Principles of Cytogenetics

• Principles of Plant Breeding

• Principles of Quantitative Genetics

• Advanced plant breeding

• Cell Biology, Functions of Cell Wall and Cell Membrane

• DNA as the genetic material

• Griffith and Avery’s transformation experiment

• DNA structure

• Types of RNA

• Mendel’s Law of Inheritance

• Chromosome theory of inheritance

• Objectives of Plant Breeding

• Role of mutation in crop breeding.

Plant Ecology and Phytogeography

This subject focuses on the origin, distribution, and development of plant species. It also deals with the relationships of plants with other species and their surroundings.

Major factors affecting plant development are:

• Our environment

• Climate conditions

• Topography

• Biotic factors

• The ecosystem

• Hydrophytes

Microbial Diversity

• Gram staining (in bacteria).

• Sectional cutting of Fungi-affected material

• Identification of Pathogens.

• Examination of biofertilizers, antibiotics, protein capsules and mushrooms.

• Different types of thalli (Lichens) and their external morphology

You will also get an opportunity to receive hands-on learning through field visits.

Gymnosperms

This subject talks about gymnosperms - plants that do not flower due to which their seeds appear at the surface of their reproductive structures.

The different classes of Gymnosperms taught in this subject are:

• Cycadophyta

• Ginkgophyta

• Gnetophyta

• Coniferophyta

You’ll get to learn about the following:

• General Characteristics, Classification and Distribution of Gymnosperms in India

• Structure and Life History of Cycas

• Structure and Life History of Ephedra

• Structure and Life History of Pinus

1

Microbial Diversity

Algae and microbiology

Students learn about the different kinds of microbes present on our planet.

This subject provides opportunities for students to research the evolution of microbial diversity.

The main objectives of microbial classification are to study the following:

• Stability

• Predictability

• Genetic relatedness

• The intuitive method

• Numerical taxonomy

3

Cell Biology

Plant metabolism

This is the most basic subject in Botany that talks about plants on the cellular level.

The objective of this subject is to study the molecular aspects of cell structure.

It also introduces an experimental approach to cell biology.

The major topics included in Cell Biology are

• Cell envelopes and organelles

• Nuclear organisation

• Cell division and cell cycle

• DNA

• RNA

1

Diversity of Archegoniates and Anatomy

Archegoniatae

Archegoniate refers to plants bearing an Archegonium, i.e. female sex organ.

The syllabus also includes studying the structure and function of the Archegonium. Students will learn about the extant and extinct species of archegoniate.

Learning about the economic importance of Archegoniates is another crucial aspect of this subject.

3

Genetics and Plant Breeding

Genetics and Genomics

The science of changing plant characteristics to get desired results is called plant breeding.

To bring about these changes, the study of plant genetics is necessary.

This subject has a lot of scope for developing newer varieties of crops.

Plant Biotechnology

• Algae, Fungi, and Lichens

• Algal and Fungal Biotechnology

• Bryophytes and Pteridophytes

• Gymnosperms

• Anatomy of Angiosperms

• Taxonomy of Gymnosperms

• Economic Botany

Forestry

• Tree physiology

• Forest pathology

• Wildlife management

• Tribology and Anthropology

• Principles of Forest Economics

• Silviculture

• Forest Management

• Forests and People

Horticulture

• Commercial Floriculture

• Agricultural Microbiology

• Principles of Seed Production

• Ornamental Gardening

• Interior Scaping

• Greenhouse construction

• Production Economics

Environmental Science

• Ecological System

• Pollution and its control

• Disaster management

• Geoenvironment

• Ecological Principles

• Waste management

• Environmental management

Agriculture

• Plant genetics

• Agricultural Meteorology

• Food Technology

• Animal Husbandry

• Soil science

• Agriculture Economics

• Agriculture Engineering

• Sericulture

Cell Biology

Cell - A Molecular Approach

Cooper and Hausmann

Genetics and Plant Breeding

Principles of Genetics

Gardner, Simmons, and Snustad

Plant Development and Anatomy

Plant Physiology

Taiz and Zeiger

Biochemistry

Principles of Biochemistry

Lehninger

Plant Taxonomy

Molecular Plant Taxonomy

Pascale Besse

Advanced Plant Physiology

Advanced Microscopy in Mycology (Fungal Biology)

Kirk J. Cyzmmek, Tanya E.S. Dahms

Mycology and Phytopathology

Introduction to Fungi

Roland WS Webster, John Webster