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M.Sc in Botany is a two-year postgraduate degree course that focuses on the main areas of plants and their structure in nature and biology. Its aim is to deliver high-quality courses with strong vocational elements and professional skills development embedded across the curriculum.
Admission for the M.Sc in Botany course is based on both merit-based and entrance exams. The core subjects of MSc Botany are Phycology and Limnology, Mycology and Plant Pathology, Plant Morphology and Anatomy, Plant Physiology etc. There are 100 marks for each paper and there is a total of 600 marks in each semester. Each semester contains a total of 20 credit points.
See Also: Botany Courses
The list of elective subjects available for MSc Botany are Applied Phycology, Plant Pathology and Plant Protection, Biology of Bryophytes, Taxonomy of Angiosperms, Biology and diversity of Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms etc. Each of the elective subjects contain 3 credits for each subject.
MSc Botany Course Details
| Course Name | Master of Science in Botany |
| Course Level | Post Graduate |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exams and Merit Based |
| Top Entrance Exam | BHU-PET, DU Entrance Test (DUET), CUCET, LPU NEST, TUEE |
| Eligibility | Graduation in BSc Botany with minimum 50% marks. |
| Top Colleges | Jain University, Banglore; Fergusson College, Pune; St. Xavier’s College; and Ramjas College, New Delhi |
| Average Fees | INR 30,000- INR 1 Lakhs per annum |
MSc Botany Syllabus
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Microbiology | Taxonomy of Angiosperms |
| Phycology | Genetics and Genomics |
| Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, and Gymnosperms | Paleobotany and Palynology |
| Cell Biology and Biomolecules | Mycology and Plant Pathology |
| Plant Anatomy and Developmental Biology | - |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Microbial Biotechnology | Computer Applications and Bioinformatics |
| Plant Physiology and Biochemistry | - |
| Plant Molecular Biotechnology and Biology | - |
| Plant Physiology and Pharmacognosy | - |
MSc Botany Subjects
MSc Botany subjects are spread across 2 years and 4 semesters. The important subjects in MSc Botany are mentioned below:
MSc Botany First Semester Subjects
- Microbiology: Microbiology studies the biology of microscopic organisms viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi, slime molds, and protozoa.
- Phycology: Phycology also known as algology, phycology is a branch of life science. It is the study of algae that is important as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems.
- Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, and Gymnosperms: Bryophytes are the preliminary type of plants which includes mosses and liverworts. Pteridophytes include fern plants and Gymnosperms are seed-bearing plants, it includes cycads and conifers.
See Also: PhD Botany
MSc Botany Second Semester Subjects
- Taxonomy of Angiosperms: Taxonomy deals with the laws governing the classification of plants. It means arrangement and nomos- laws and is also known as systematic botany.
- Genetics and Genomics: Genomics is distinct from genetics. While genetics is the study of heredity, genomics is defined as the study of genes and their functions, and related techniQues.
MSc Botany Third Semester Subjects
- Microbial Biotechnology: Microbial biotechnology deals with the manipulation through genetic engineering to produce valuable products for various applications.
- Plant Physiology and Biochemistry: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes original theoretical, experimental and technical contributions in the various fields of plant physiology at diverse levels of integration.
MSc Botany Fourth Semester Subjects
- Computer Applications and Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics refers to the application of computer technology to the effective use of biological and biomedical data.
MSc Botany Entrance Exam Syllabus
| Topics | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Viruses | Discovery, general structure, replication, DNA virus (T-phage); lytic and lysogenic cycle, RNA virus (TMV); Bacteria: General characteristics and cell structure; reproduction vegetative, asexual and recombination (conjugation, transformation and transduction); economic importance |
| Fungi | General characteristics, classification (Alexopolous, Mims & Blackwell), cell wall composition, nutrition and reproduction; life cycle of Rhizopus (Zygomycota), Venturia (Ascomycota), Agaricus (Basidiomycota). Fungi, bacteria, MLO’S and RLO’S. Major diseases, disease symptoms and management practices in apple, pear and apricot. Symptoms, causal organism, disease cycle and control of plant diseases |
| Algae | General characteristics, classification of Algae (Round 1965), criteria for algal classification; range of thallus organization; morphology, reproduction and life cycle of Nostoc, Chlamydomonas, Oedogonium, Vaucheria, Ectocarpus, Batrachospermum; economic importance of algae. Archegoniate – General characteristics, adaptations to land habit. |
| Bryophytes | General characteristics, Proskauer’s classification (upto family); morphology, anatomy and reproduction (excluding developmental details) of Marchantia and Funaria; Evolution of sporophyte; apogamy and apospory; alternation of generation; economic importance of bryophytes. |
| Pteridophytes | General characteristics; classification of Pteridophytes; Early land plants; morphology, anatomy and reproduction (excluding developmental details) of Selaginella, Equisetum and Dryopteris; heterospory and origin of seed habit; evolution of stellar systems in pteridophytes. Gymnosperms - General characteristics,; morphology, anatomy and reproduction (excluding developmental details) of Cycas and Pinus; economic importance of gymnosperms |
| Plant taxonomy | Introduction to Plant taxonomy; types of classification - artificial, natural and evolutionary;classification systems - Bentham and Hooker (upto series), Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (AGP) (upto order level). Numerical taxonomy |
| Herbarium | Role of herbarium and botanical garden, important herbaria and botanical gardens of the world and India; Flora, identification Keys: single-access and multi-access; taxonomic evidences from cytology, phytochemistry and molecular data; taxonomic hierarchy – ranks, categories and taxonomic groups; typification, author citation, valid publication, principle of priority. |
| Meristematic and permanent tissues | Simple and Complex tissue (Types and Functions); Organization of root and shoot apical meristem- Histogen theory; Tunica and corpus theory. Plant organs: Structure of a typical dicot and monocot root, stem and leaf. Secondary growth: Cambium- types, structure and function, Secondary growth in typical dicot root and stem; General account of wood structure; Adaptations: General structure and function of cuticle, epidermis and stomata; General account of adaptations in xerophytes and hydrophytes. |
| Structural organization of flower | Development and structure of anther and pollen; Structure and types of ovules; Types of embryo sacs; Structure of a typical embryo sac. Pollination and fertilization: Types of pollination –Floral modifications favoring self and cross pollination; Double fertilization; Seed dispersal mechanism. Embryo and Endosperm: Endosperm development, structure and functions; Structure and development of dicot and monocot embryo. |
| Plant Water Relations | Water potential and its components; Transpiration and its significance; Factors affecting transpiration; Ascent of Sap, Pressure flow model; Phloem loading and unloading. Mineral nutrition: Essential elements, macro and micronutrients; Criteria of essentiality of elements; Role of essential elements; Transport of ions across cell membrane, active and passive transport. Photosynthesis: Photosynthetic Pigments ; light harvest complexes, Photosystem I and II, Electron transport and mechanism of ATP synthesis. |
| Respiration | Glycolysis, anaerobic respiration, TCA cycle; Pentose Phosphate Pathway, Electron Transport system and Oxidative phosphorylation. Enzymes: Structure, Classification and properties; Mechanism of enzyme action and enzyme inhibition. Nitrogen metabolism: concept of symbiotic and asymbiotic associations, Biological nitrogen fixation. |
| The cell theory | Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; structure and function of biomembranes; fluid mosaic concept, Cell wall-structure and functions. Structure and functions of ribosomes, centrioles, basal bodies, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi bodies, lysosomes, peroxisomes and glyoxisomes, mitochondria, chloroplast and nucleus. |
| Ecology | soil - origin, formation and composition, soil profile; water - states of water in the environment, precipitation types; light and temperature as ecological factors;adaptation of hydrophytes and xerophytes, Plant communities - characteristics; ecotone and edge effect; succession - processes and types. |
MSc Botany Syllabus HPU
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| English/MIL communications/ Course-I Environmental Science | English/MIL communications/ 4 Environmental Science |
| Biodiversity (Microbes, Algae, Fungi BOTA and Archegoniate) | Plant Ecology and Taxonomy |
| Biodiversity (Microbes, Algae, Fungi Practical/Tutorial and Archegoniate) Lab | Plant Ecology and Taxonomy Lab |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Plant Anatomy and Embryology | Plant Physiology and Metabolism |
| Plant Anatomy and Embryology Practical | Plant Physiology and Metabolism Practical |
| Biofertilizers or Herbal Technology | - |
MSc Botany Syllabus Kumaun university
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Microbiology (Bacteria, Viruses and Lichens) | Gymnosperms and Palaeobotany |
| Phycology | Taxonomy of Angiosperms |
| Mycology | Plant Morphology, Anatomy and Embryology |
| Bryology and Pteridology | Cell and Molecular Biology |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Plant Ecology | Plant Resource, Utilization and Conservation |
| Cytogenetics and Plant Breeding | Elective Courses: 100 (i) Forest Ecology (ii) Plant Pathology (iii) Taxonomy of Angiosperms (iv) Ethnobotany, Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights (v) Bryology (vi) Environmental Botany |
| Plant Biotechnology | - |
| Plant Physiology and Biochemistry | - |
MSc Botany Syllabus in DDGU
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Algae and Bryophytes | Angiosperms I (Taxonomy & Biosystematics) |
| Fungi and Plant Viruses | Angiosperms II (Morphology, Embryology and Anatomy) |
| Pteridophyta, Gymnosperms and Paleobotany | Genetics and Cytogenetics |
| Microbiology | Soil Science, Phytogeography |
| Practical | Practical |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Plant Biochemistry | Molecular Genetics, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology |
| Plant Physiology | Plant Resource Utilization and Conservation |
| Plant Ecology | Cytology, Plant Breeding and Biostatistics |
| Elective paper /Optional Paper | Dissertation and Viva-voce: Based on Elective /Optional Papers |
| Practical | Practical |
MSc Botany Syllabus in University of Calcutta
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Microbiology | Palaeobotany and Palynology |
| Phycology | Taxonomy of Angiosperms |
| Bryophytes,Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms | Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy |
| Cell Biology | Genetics and Genomics |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Mycology and Plant pathology | Plant Anatomy and Developmental Biology |
| Plant Physiology and Biochemistry | Plant Biotechnology |
| Optional Paper I | Ecology |
| Choice based credit course (CBCS 1) | Optional Paper II |
| Choice based credit course (CBCS 2) | - |
MSc Botany Syllabus in MGSU Bikaner
| Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| Microbiology, Phycology, Mycologyand Plant Pathology | Angiosperm Taxonomy, Morphology, Anatomy And Embryology |
| Bryology, Pteridology And Gymnosperms | Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology,Plant Brreding And Biometry |
| Ecology, Phytogeography, Ethnobotany And Economic Botany | Advanced Plant Ecology I |
| Biochemistry And Plant Physiology | Advanced Plant Ecology II |
| Advanced Plant Pathology I | Advanced Plant Biotechnology I |
| Advanced Plant Pathology II | Advanced Plant Biotechnology II |
| Advanced Plant Physiology I | - |
| Advanced Plant Physiology II | - |
MSc Botany Top Colleges
| Name of the College | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Jain University, Banglore | 1,25,000 |
| Fergusson College, Pune | 48,000 |
| St. Xavier’s College | 15,000 |
| Ramjas College, New Delhi | 14,000 |
| PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore | 66,000 |
| NIMS University, Jaipur | 27,000 |
| Hindu College, Delhi University | 19,000 |
| Miranda House, New Delhi | 16,000 |
| Chandigarh University | 50,000 |
| Hansraj College, New Delhi | 16,000 |
MSc Botany Books
| Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Concise Encyclopedia of Plant Pathology | P. Vidhyasekaran |
| A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics | R. J. Lincoln; G. A. Boxshall; P. F. Clark |
| Chemical Microbiology | Rose |
| Chromatography: Concepts and Contrasts | James Miller, John Wiley, and Sons |
| Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science | Robert M. Goodman (Editor) |
MSc Botany Syllabus: FAQs
Ques. What is MSc Botany?
Ans. M.Sc in Botany is a two-year postgraduate degree course which focuses on the main areas of plants and their structure in nature and biology.
Ques. What are the core subjects of MSc Botany?
Ans. The core subjects of MSc Botany:
- Enzymology
- Microbiology
- Phycology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics and Genomics
- Plant Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Bioinformatics
Ques. What are the electives in MSc Botany?
Ans. The electives in MSc Botany includes:
- Forest Ecology
- Plant Pathology
- Taxonomy of Angiosperms
- Ethnobotany, Traditional Knowledge and
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Bryology
- Environmental Botany
Ques. Who can do MSc Botany?
Ans. Apirants must have a bachelor's degree related to biology with any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
Ques. What are the Job options after MSc Botany?
Ans. The Job options after MSc Botany:
- Ecologists.
- Project Manager.
- Environmental or Safety Specialist.
- Scientific Researcher.
- Quality Control Officer.
- Lab Technician.
- Medical Representative.
Ques. What is the average salary of MSc Botany graduate?
Ans. The average starting salary of a MSc Botany graduate India ranges from INR 3,00,000 - 5,00,000.
Ques. What are the project topics of MSc Botany?
Ans. The project topics of MSc Botany:
- Combating the global food crisis: diazotroph bacteria as a cereal crop growth promoter
- The lifespan of a genetically engineered tomato
- Environmentally friendly method to suppress weeds
- Investigating seed tolerance for freezing temperatures
Ques. What are the top colleges of MSc Botany?
Ans. Jain University, Banglore; Fergusson College, Pune; St. Xavier’s College; and Ramjas College, New Delhi are the top colleges of MSc Botany.
Ques. Is it worth doing MSc Botany?
Ans. Yes, because MSc in Botany degree holders have ample scope for job opportunities in diverse sectors. They can explore employment opportunities in public health service, agriculture department, forest service, and more.
Ques. What can be done after completion of MSc Botany course?
Ans. M.Sc in Botany graduate can apply for any of the below mentioned program:
- M.Tech
- MBA
- M.Phil
- Ph.D
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