Economic Botany

 Title of the Course : Economic Botany  

Nature of course : Major/ core-XIII  

Code : BOT-C-13 

Total Credits : 04 

Distribution of Marks : 100 [End: 60 (Theory: 45, Pract: 15), In: 40] 

Course outcomes; 

1. Identify and classify economically important plant species based on their  taxonomic characteristics. 

2. Describe the diversity of plant species used by humans across different  geographical regions. 

3. Discuss agricultural and horticultural techniques used to cultivate economically  important plants. 

4. Evaluate sustainable practices for the production and management of economically  significant crops 

Learning outcomes: 

1. Identify and classify economically important plant species based on their botanical  characteristic 

2. Describe the traditional, medicinal, industrial, and commercial uses of plants 3. Explain the anatomical and physiological features of plants that are relevant to  their economic uses 

4. Understand agricultural and horticultural techniques used in the cultivation and  management of economically significant plants

Unit 1: (09 classes)
Origin of Cultivated Plants: Concept of Centres of Origin, their importance with reference to Vavilov’s work. Examples of major plant introductions; Crop domestication  and loss of genetic diversity; evolution of new crops/varieties, importance of germplasm  diversity. 

Unit 2: (09 classes)
Cereals: Wheat and Rice (origin, morphology, processing & uses); Brief account of millets.  Legumes: Origin, morphology and uses of Chick pea, Pigeon pea and fodder legumes. Importance to man and ecosystem. 
Sugars and starches: Morphology and processing of sugarcane, products and by-products  of sugarcane industry. Potato – morphology, propagation & uses. 

Unit 3: (09 classes)
Spices: Listing of important spices, their family and part used. Economic importance with  special reference to fennel, saffron, clove and black pepper 
Beverages:Tea, Coffee (morphology, processing & uses) 
Oils and fats: General description, classification, extraction, their uses and health  implications; groundnut, coconut, soybean, mustard and coconut (Botanical name, family  & uses).

Unit 4: (09 classes)
Natural Rubber: Para-rubber: tapping, processing and uses. 
Drug-yielding plants: Cinchona, Digitalis, Papaver and Cannabis; Tobacco (Morphology,  processing, uses and health hazards). 

Unit 5: (09 classes)
Timber plants: General account with special reference to teak and pine. 
Fibers: Classification based on the origin of fibers; Cotton, Coir and Jute (morphology,  extraction and uses). 

Lab activities 

1. Collection and submission different cereals, pulses, spices, drug yielding plant  parts and timber (in the form of albums) 

2. Identification of locally available economically important plant species 3. Qualitative detection of protein, carbohydrate, and fat in plant samples Suggested readings 

1. Kochhar, S.L. (2012). Economic Botany in Tropics, MacMillan & Co. New Delhi, India. 

2. Wickens, G.E. (2001). Economic Botany: Principles & Practices. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. 

3. Chrispeels, M.J. and Sadava, D.E. 1994 Plants, Genes and Agriculture. Jones & Bartlett  Publishers.