Report on
Two day Workshop on “Hands on Training in Plant Taxonomy – Identification, Nomenclature of Plant Groups and Modern Techniques”.
Venue: Department of Botany, Serampore College
A two day workshop on “Hands on Training in Plant Taxonomy – Identification, Nomenclature of Plant Groups and Modern Techniques” was organized by Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme Centre (EIACP) - Resource partner on Biodiversity (Flora), Botanical Survey of India, Shibpur, Howrah and Central National Herbarium, BSI, Howrah in collaboration with Department of Botany, Serampore College, Hooghly on 1st and 2nd March, 2024. A total of 42 participants attended the programme. Among participants 5 faculty members from different colleges, 1 Research Scholar, 11 UG students and 25 PG students participated in the programmme. On first Day the program inaugurated by lighting of lamp and inaugural song. Rev. Dr. Subhro Sekhar Sircar, Principal (Acting) of Serampore College delivered the inaugural speech and Dr. R. K. Gupta , Scientist ‘E’ & HoO, CNH, BSI delivered the key note address. The technical session begins with the ‘Collection, Documentation and Identification of Algal Members’ by Dr. U. Elaya Perumal, Research Associate, BSI. He explained in details about the habitat, collection process and identification process of algal members, present status of research in algae and also showed some slides of collected algal samples– some of which are even live specimens. After the lunch Dr. Kanad Das, Scientist ‘F’, BSI deliver a lecture on ‘Collection, documentation and identification of fungal members’. He discussed in detail about the types of fungal members, collection and preservation of the macrofungal members. He also explained about the molecular techniques required for identification of fungal members. After his delighting lecture Dr. Sudeshna Dutta, Botanist, CNH gave a practical exposure to the participants explaining different parts of fungal tissues, their characters utilized for identification purposes. After this practical session a lecture on the ‘Collection, documentation and identification of Bryophytic members’ by Dr. Sashi Kumar, Research Associate, BSI. His explained beautifully about the vegetative morphological features as well as reproductive features utilized to distinguish the bryophytic members. Sk Nasim Ali, JRF, BSI then gave a glimpse of collection and preservation of bryophytic specimens.
On the second day i.e. 02.03.2024 the program started with a field visit to the nearby riverside part of the college by Dr. Shyam Biswa, Bot. Asst., CNH, BSI and Ms. Ruma Bhadra, Sr. Pres. Asst., CNH, BSI who explained in detail about the collection of live specimens, tagging and documentation of characters in the field. After that visit a Mission LiFE programme was also organised in the field and Mission LiFE pledge is also taken. After that Dr. Biswa gave a lecture on the ‘Herbarium Technique’ in detail with the difficulties in it and the technique to overcome it. After this lecture Ms. Ruma Bhadra also gave a lecture on the identification of grasses mentioning about their specific feature. Dr. Subir Bandyopadhyay, Retd. Scientist, BSI delivered a lecture on the nomenclature process and nomenclatural types. His lecture was highly appreciated by all the participants. After this lecture Dr. Biswa and Ms. Bhadra explained the participants about the characters of the specimens that can be utilized for the identification of Dicot as well as Monocot members, particularly grasses. After a short lunch break Dr. Ranjith Layola M. R., Botanist, BSI discussed about the process of molecular techniques utilized for the phylogenetic analysis. Along with Dr. Lyola, Ms. Priya Singh Kushwaha, JRF, BSI also explained about the utilization of software to analyze the gene sequence data and the process to conduct the phylogram. The valedictory session was chaired by Dr. R.K. Gupta and Dr. J.S. Jalal, Scientist ‘E’ and In-charge, EIACP PC-RP on Biodiversity (Flora), BSI. Dr. Jalal gave a brief speech as the concluding remark on the programme. The certificates were distributed by Dr. Jalal, Dr. Gupta and Dr. Debranjan Das, PG Botany Course– Coordinator of Serampore College. The program ends after taking a group photograph of all the participants.
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