SylbV01-00-00. pmd

V. Aim of the course
The course is designed to make students understand reconstruction of the
evolutionary history and classification of plants into taxonomic groups, introduce
the students to the theory and practice behind systematic conduct of exploration,
ecogeographic survey, sampling strategies, post harvest methods.
VI. Theory
Unit I
History of germplasm exploration, distribution and extent of prevalent genetic
diversity; phyto-geographical regions/ ecological zones and associated diversity;
Geo-Spatial analysis using GIS (Geographical Information System) tools for mapping
eco-geographic distribution of diversity, threatened habitats, remote sensing, use
of drones, need for collection missions, Planning and execution, Use of floras,
Concept of population and gene pool; gene pool sampling in self- and cross-pollinated
and vegetatively propagated species, non-selective, random and selective sampling
strategies, coarse and fine grid surveys, planning collection and analyses of eco-
geographic data, assessing the threats of genetic erosion.
Unit II
Ethnobotanical aspects of PGR, crop botany, farming systems, collecting wild
relatives of crop plants; Post-exploration handling of germplasm collections,
preservation of specimens, importance and use of herbaria and preparation of
herbarium specimens.
Unit III
Crop Systematics, nomenclature; International code for binomial nomenclature,
systems of classification; concept of species and taxa, biosystematics and terminologies
for plant description, Classical and modern species concepts, differentiation and
evolution of species: speciation, variation within species, phenotypic plasticity.
Unit IV
Taxonomy of higher/ cultivated plants: use of taxonomic literature such as floras,
manuals, monographs, indices, catalogues and dictionaries, concept and methods of
herbarium and field study, criteria used for classification, identification of plants

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Plant Sciences–Plant Genetic Resources
121
of economically important families, floristic and monographic works, Modern trends
in plant taxonomy – Chemotaxonomy, Numerical taxonomy and Cytotaxonomy;
Cronquist system – Angiosperm Phylogeny (AGP) Group classification; molecular
systematics – Primary and Secondary metabolites – Semantides; global taxonomic
initiatives- barcoding, taxonomic databases.