Major: (BOTN1011)/ Minor: (BOTN1021)
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Chemical basis of origin of life, concepts of evolution, Tree and classification of life, and classification (up to six kingdoms).
Unit 2: Bacteria
Characteristic features, cell structure and genetic element, asexual reproduction and modes of gene transfer (conjugation, transformation and transduction), brief introduction to Archaea. Role of bacteria in agriculture, medicine and industry.
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SEC: (BOTN1051)
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Unit 1: Introduction
Introduction to microbial inoculants or biofertilizers, Plant nutrition, advantages of using biofertilizers over chemical fertilizers; Methods and steps in mass production of biofertilizers: stock culture, broth culture, growth medium, fermentation, blending with the carrier, packaging, quality check, longevity, ISI standard specification for biofertilizers; scope of biofertilizers in India.
Unit 2: Microinnoculants
Study of important microbial inoculants: Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Azotobacter and PGPR. Actinorhizae; Characteristics, and crop response.
Unit 3: Role of Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Agriculture: Cyanobacteria in rice cultivation; Azolla and Anabaena association, nitrogen fixation, and factors affecting growth.
Unit 4: Mycorrhizal association
Types of mycorrhizal association, occurrence and distribution; Role of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in phosphorus nutrition, growth and yield of crop plants; VAM and AMF – methods in isolation (wet sieving and decanting), identification (morphological and molecular methods)
Unit 5: Biofertilizer and Organic farming
Introduction to organic farming, recycling of biodegradable municipal (domestic), agricultural and industrial waste; green manuring, bio-composting, vermicomposting and the infield application.
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