PGD Plant Biology

Department of Plant Biology Postgraduate Diploma in Plant Biology

PGD Plant Biology

1. List of Academic Staff

Name	Status And Qualification	Research Interest(s)
K. S. Olorunmaiye	Professor & Head of Department. B.Sc. (Unilorin), M.Sc. (UI, Ibadan), Ph.D., PGDE (Unilorin)	Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
P. O. Fatoba	Professor B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (OAU, Ife)	Bryology and Environmental Biology
O. T. Mustapha	Professor. B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Unilorin), MBA (BUK, Kano)	Biosystematics and Cytogenetics
R. Krishnamurthy	Professor B.Sc., M.Sc. (Madras, India), Ph.D. (MSU Baroda, India)	Phytomedicine, Tissue Culture and Molecular Biology
A. A. AbdulRahaman	Professor B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Unilorin)	Plant Anatomy and Taxonomy
F. O. Egbedo	Lecturer I. B.Sc., M.Phil. (Unilag, Lagos)	Plant Taxonomy
C. O. Ogunkunle	Senior Lecturer. B.Sc. (Unilorin), M.Sc. (OAU, Ife), Ph.D. (Unilorin)	Plant Ecology and Environmental Biology
B. U. Olayinka	Senior Lecturer. B. Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Unilorin), PGDE (Kaduna)	Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
Khadijat A. Abdulkareem	Senior Lecturer B.Sc., PGDE (UDUS, Sokoto); M.Sc. Ph.D. (Unilorin)	Biosystematics and Cytogenetics
S. B. Adeyemi	Senior Lecturer B.Sc. (Unilorin), M.Sc. (UI, Ibadan); Ph.D. (UTU, India)	Ethnobotany and Phytomedicine
G. S. Olahan	Senior Lecturer. B.Sc. (ABU, Zaria), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Unilorin)	Plant Pathology
D. A. Animasaun	Senior Lecturer. B. Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Unilorin)	Genetics and Molecular Biology
T. Garuba	Senior Lecturer. B.Sc. (UDUS, Sokoto), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Unilorin)	Plant Pathology and Mycology
S. Oyedeji	Senior Lecturer. B.Sc. (Uniben, Benin), M.Sc., Ph.D. (OAU, Ife)	Plant Ecology and Environmental management
A. A. Lateef	Lecturer I. B.Sc. (FUT, Minna), Ph.D. (UMS, Malaysia)	Plant Pathology, Mycology and Molecular Phylogenetics
S. A. Adeniran	Lecturer II. B. Sc.(Ed).(UNN, Nssuka), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Unilag, Lagos)	Ecology, Environmental Management, Lower Plants
G. K. Olawepo	Lecturer II. B. Sc. , M.Sc. Ph.D. (Unilorin)	Anatomy and Taxonomy

B. B. Tiamiyu	Lecturer II. B.Sc. (ABU, Zaria), M.Sc. (Unilorin), Ph.D. (WBGCAS, China)	Landscape genetics, Population genetics, and Molecular Phylogenetics
A. Sagaya	Lecturer II B.Sc. (Unlorin), M.Sc. (UI, Ibadan), Ph.D. (Unilorin)	Plant Anatomy and Taxonomy

B. Introduction

A programme shall be provided by the Department of Plant Biology leading to the award of Postgraduate Diploma in Plant Biology (PGDPB) with Distinction, Credit or Pass.

The following Training Courses would be available in the Department of Plant Biology during the long vacation. Courses would be structured to benefit teachers and technicians at secondary school level; technicians in Research Institutions; field staff of the Forestry Division and NGOs.

The course will involve classroom work; however, they will be practically oriented.

C. Philosophy of the programme

The philosophy of the programme includes:

1. production of graduates for the postgraduate programmes (especially Master degree) with enough knowledge;
2. produce graduates that will be able to compete favourably with graduates of other universities based on their scientific research and their contributions to national development; and
3. prepare our graduates to be job creators rather than job seekers.

D. Aim and Objectives

The aim is to provide professional or career opportunities for aspiring Plant Biologist. The major objectives of this programme are to teach and train to:

1. enable candidates to obtain various professional techniques in Plant Biology in their various fields of endeavours; and
2. provide require skills for prospective candidates for admission into the Master Degree programme for candidates with less than Second Class Honours Degree.

E. Admission Requirements

1. A Bachelor‘s degree in Pure Science or relevant Allied Applied Science disciplines (e.g. Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry etc) from a recognized University.
2. A Higher National Diploma in Agriculture, Horticulture, Botany or Plant Biology or equivalent disciplines.
3. In addition, candidates must have a minimum of credit passes in 5 subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and English Language at SSCE and GCE (from WAEC, NECO and NABTEB) in not more than two sittings.

F. Duration of the Programme

The duration of the programme shall be a minimum of 9 calendar months, a maximum of 12 calendar months for full-time students; a minimum of 15 months and a maximum of 24 months for

part-time students. On the expiration of the maximum duration, a candidate may apply for extension of not more than 9 calendar months if it is a full-time, or 15 months if it is a part-time.

G. Detailed Course Description

PLB 700 Seminar 2 Credits

A candidate for the Postgraduate Diploma will be required to present a seminar on a topic selected from within the study area before the Department Postgraduate Committee. The performance of a candidate shall be evaluated for the award of   marks by a panel selected by the Departmental Postgraduate Committee.  Apart from the oral presentation, the seminar shall be typewritten, soft-bound and submitted   to   earn credit. 60h. (P); C

PLB 701 Basic Plant Identification 3 Credits

Herbarium techniques. Key to plant identification. Plant cytological techniques. Biological illustration. 30h. (T); 45h. (P); C

PLB 702 Plant Tissue Culture 3 Credits

General techniques in Plant Tissue Culture. Biotechnology for conservation. 30h. (T); 45h. (P); R

PLB 703 Wood and its Industrial Utilization 3 Credits

Techniques used in wood identification. General Principles and techniques of pulp and paper, and match production. General Principles and techniques of veneer, plywood etc. Reaction woods: tension and compression woods. 30h. (T); 45h. (P); R

PLB 704: Techniques in Plant Physiology 3 Credits

Chromatographic methods. Extraction of plant pigments. Transpiration: Determination of rate of transpiration. Enzyme activities. 30h. (T); 45h. (P); R

PLB 705: Plants and Environmental Assessment 3 Credits

Concept of environmental impact assessment. Environmental pollution. Plants used in biomonitoring of environmental pollution. Concept of waste management. 30h. (T); 45h. (P); R

PLB 706 Gardening Techniques 3 Credits

Garden management techniques. Grafting and budding techniques. Mulching and composting. Nursery development. Landscaping.m30h. (T); 45h. (P); E

PLB 707: Basic Principles and Practice of Plant Breeding 3 Credits

Cell division; mitosis and meiosis. Mendelian genetics. Breeding systems in plants. Plant breeding methods. 30h. (T); 45h. (P); E

PLB 708: Herbarium Techniques 3 Credits

Collecting specimens. Pressing and drying specimens. Identification of plant specimens. Herbarium specimen labels. 30h. (T); 45h. (P); E

PLB 709  Research Project 4 Credits

A candidate for the Postgraduate Diploma shall undertake an independent research in the particular field of specialization under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by  the Department Postgraduate Committee and approved by the Postgraduate School and the University Senate. A report on the research project, i.e. thesis shall be submitted to  the Department. The Candidate shall be examined orally by a panel of External and Internal Examiners. 180h (P); C

I. Summary of Requirements for Graduation Compulsory courses

PLB 700 (2), PLB 701 (3), PLB 709 (4)                    = 9 Credits

Required courses

PLB 702 (3), PLB 703 (3), PLB 704 (3), 705 (3)       = 12 Credits

Elective courses

PLB 706 (3), PLB 707 (3), PLB 708 (3)                    = 9 Credits

= 30 Credits

For a candidate to be deemed for graduation, he/she must have satisfied the minimum credits required for the course, and must have defended the research project, and submitted a corrected version of the research project.