Graduate Courses

The MPhil Botany programme is designed to equip students with advanced knowledge and research skills in plant science, addressing both foundational and emerging issues in the field. Rooted in a multidisciplinary approach, the programme provides rigorous academic and practical training in areas such as plant taxonomy, physiology, genetics, ecology, pathology, biotechnology, and environmental management. It emphasizes the scientific study of plants in natural and managed ecosystems, aiming to develop professionals who can contribute to research, teaching, environmental policy, and sustainable development.

Through coursework, seminars, and independent research, students engage with contemporary challenges such as environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change, and food insecurity. The programme fosters critical thinking, innovation, and leadership, preparing graduates to pursue doctoral studies or careers in academia, government agencies, NGOs, or the private sector. With access to the Department’s experimental sites, laboratories, herbarium, and collaborative networks, as well as the University of Ghana Botanical Garden, students benefit from a dynamic learning environment that integrates theory with real-world applications.

 

Course Code Title
BOTN 671 CONSERVATION METHODS

Credit Hours - 2

In-situ and ex-situ conservation methods for plant genetic resources.  SWOT Analysis of methods for in-situ and ex-situ conservation. 

BOTN 669 PROTOCOLS AND POLICES ON PLANT BIODIVERSITY

Credit Hours - 3

International and National protocols an policies on plant genetic resources.

BOTN 667 DIVERSITY IN AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS

Credit Hours - 3

Sustainable utilization of biodiversity, Environmental Impact Assessment - case studies.

BOTN 665 DIVERSITY IN TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

Credit Hours - 4

Species identification (morphological and molecular), ecological survey techniques; data management and monitoring of ecosystems and plant genetic resources.

BOTN 664 CASE STUDIES AND RESEARCH REPORTS

Credit Hours - 4

Case studies of terrestrial (forest and savanna), freshwater (natural and man-made) and marine ecosystems plus agro-ecosystems.  Developing research reports using the case studies. Presentation and discussion of case studies

BOTN 655 BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE

Credit Hours - 2

Sources and applications of plant names.  The international code of Botanical Nomenclature: history, principles and provisions

BOTN 654 PRACTICAL AND APPLIED TAXONOMY

Credit Hours - 3

Tools in Eiosystematics:  variation and speciation plant identification.  Herbarium techniques and field practice.  Ethnobotany

BOTN 652 APPROACHES TO TAXONOMY

Credit Hours - 3

Different classification approaches:  history, thought and processes.  Numerical Taxonomy. Cladistics

BOTN 651 PRINCIPLES OF TAXONOMY

Credit Hours - 3

Classification, Taxonomy and Systematics.  Concepts of taxa.  Assessment of relationship, concept and practice:  phenetic, phyletic, phytogenetic

BOTN 663 COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR ECOLOGY GENETICS AND PLANT ANATOMY

Credit Hours - 1

Use of computers: DOS, word processing spreadsheet, database, statistical packages, introduction to programming. For Plant Anatomy and Ecology: Database for ecological, ethnobotanical and taxonomic information in the Ghana Herbarium.     

             

BOTN 649 RESOURCE RESTORATION MAINTENANCE AND GERMPLASM CONSERVATION

Credit Hours - 3

Exploration of the role of plant physiology in resource restoration, maintenance and germplasm conservation practices in Ghana, the biosphere reserve concept, use of physiological knowledge (orthodox and tissue culture) in: the collection, storage, maintenance, rapid multiplication (either by seeds or other propagules( and in buffer zone development etc. 

BOTN 645 PLANT TISSUE CULTURE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Credit Hours - 3

History of tissue culture, concept of totipotency, the Cell Theory of Schwan, regeneration in plants: in situ and in vitro tissue culture methodology:- the tissue culture m edium, shot tip and organ culture, anther culture, somatic embryogenesis, protoplast, culture, use of tissue culture in genetic conservation, rapid multiplication, somaclonal variation, mutation breeding, somatic hybridization.  Gene transfer, plant transformation; tissue culture in biotechnology

BOTN 644 QUANTITATIVE PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

Credit Hours - 3

A survey of the extent to which physiological processes and their interactions can be formulated in a quantitative manner and integrated to describe and model various aspects of plant behaviour including growth and yield biophysical concepts - use of thermodynamics to explain and model osmotic relations and water movements into single cells, among different cells and in whole plants, Michaelis - Menten equation for enzyme kinetics, role of diffusion, facilitated diffusion, mass flow (actuated by osmotic pressure or potential) in translocation of elaborated substances in the phloem (phloem transport) membrane transport; dynamics of growth single cells and whole plants

BOTN 641 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Credit Hours - 3

Soil as a substratum for plant growth - formation, texture, water holding capacity, incipient wilt, ion exchange, pH, permanent wilting percentage; role of water in plant growth  a n d development - special properties of water, plant-water relations, transport of ions, water and organic materials in plants, water economy of plants, moisture stress (flooding, drought), salinity; role of light - over views of effects of quality, quantity and duration of light on plant growth and development, photo - morphogenesis);  temp  as a factor for plant growth and development - dormancy, germination, flowering, leaf abscission, leaf flush etc;  effects of fire on soil nutrient status and plant growth, possible effects of fire on new leaf flush and stimulation of flowering;  effects of pollutants on plant growth and development - 502, No (acid rain), liquid effluents HNO3, dyes, H2 50, H2 ,503 etc, heavy metals - lead (Ph), Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) etc;  effects of climate change - global warning on plant growth; dynamics of growth  in single cells and whole plants.   

BOTN 648 PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY

Credit Hours - 4

Metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, organic acids, phenolic compound, and proteins; nitrogen and sulphur assimilatism respiration, photosynthesis, cell wall composition; biosynthesis of lignin, phytohormones etc. 

BOTN 647 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Credit Hours - 3

Review of:  variability and frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, estimation of variation, standard deviation;  standard error;  tests for s ignificance; simple  experimental design (single factor e xperiments) and analysis of variance, randomized design, randomized block complete block design;  factorial experiments;  a priori and a posteriori tests for significance - orthogonal comparisons Duncan’s Multiples Range (DMR) test, SNK; Correlation and Regression.   

BOTN 642 PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Credit Hours - 4

The internal environment and plant growth and development. Methods and techniques for the extraction, separation, isolation, purification, identification and quantification of phytohormones in higher plants - auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene and abscisic acid. Relationships between quantities of these phytohormones and physiological phenomena - eg, dormancy; leaf flush, senescence, leaf abscission etc; mechanism or mode of action of the above phytohormones. 

BOTN 646 SEED PHYSIOLOGY

Credit Hours - 4

Structure, composition of seeds;  embryogenesis and storage t issue formation, regulation of seed development;  seed germination - cellular events, mobilization of storage reserves, control of mobilization; ecophysiological aspects of germination; dormancy and control of germination; agricultural and industrial uses of seeds and germination.   

BOTN 637 MICROFLORAL ACTIVITIES IN THE SOIL ECOSYSTEM

Credit Hours - 4

The soil biota; Ecology of soil bacteria, cyanobacteria, green algae and fungi; Microbial interactions and survival of the soil microflora;  Microbiological processes and nutrient cycling;  Root mucilages and their importance in soil;  The nature and role of the rhizosphere phenomenon;  Processes of nodulation and factors influencing noduldation; Bionitrogen fixation;  Mycorrhizas; The importance of soil microflora in farming systems in Ghana; Techniques of soil microbiology.

BOTN 636 MODERN TRENDS IN FUNGAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

Credit Hours - 4

Industrial Applications of Fungal Biotechnology.

BOTN 635 PHYSIOLOGY OF FUNGI

Credit Hours - 4

Hormones in fungi, their role in morphogenesis and r eproduction in the Myxomycetes, Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes.  Dormancy and germination of fungal spores.  Effect of nutritional and environmental factors on vegetative growth and reproduction. Products of microbial metabolism including secondary metabolites, antibiotics, mycotoxins. Control of mycotoxins in foods. Advanced Topics in Food Mycology. Dispersal, arrival of fungal spores in foods and their control. 

BOTN 634 PLANT VIROLOGY AND NEMATOLOGY

Credit Hours - 4

The extraction and purification of plant viruses; Viral nomenclature; The ecology and transmission of plant viruses in Ghana; Factors influencing dispersal of viruses;  History of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot virus in Ghana and the importance of the virus in the economy of Ghana;  virus diseases of cassava, cowpea, maize and yam in Ghana.  General structure of nematodes; The soil environment and nematode activity; Parasitism of plant nematodes; The principal genera of plant-infecting nematodes; Control measures;  Importance of plant nematodes in agriculture in Ghana. 

BOTN 633 MODERN TRENDS IN FUNGAL PLANT PATHOLOGY

Credit Hours - 3

Including induction of host resistance by Elicitors, Phytoalexins, Host-selective host-specific toxins.  Post infectinal structures and Plant Disease Resistance.  Molecular interactions between pathogen and host plants

BOTN 632 INTRODUCTION TO DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Credit Hours - 3

Systematic approach to diagnosis. Epidemiology;  Dynamics of interacting pathogen and host populations; Effect of biotic and Physical factors on disease.  Disease forecasting and epidemic modelling.  Compound and Simple Interest Disease Practical disease Management in Ghana; Major groups of chemicals used in disease control.  Biological control of plant pathogenic fungi. 

BOTN 631 FLOWERING PLANT PARASITES OF WEST AFRICA

Credit Hours - 3

Occurrence, distribution and biology of mistletoes (Tapinanthus spp.) dodders (Cuscuta and Cassytha spp.) witchweed (Striga spp.) and Thonningia sanguinea in West Africa. Biological, cultural and chemical control methods and their appraisal.  Pre-and post-harvest diseases of selected economic crops and their control. 

BOTN 627 POPULATION GENETICS

Credit Hours - 4

Population genetics:  Hardy-Weinberg law and evolutionary factors; inbreeding; balanced Polymorphism: genetic distances between populations

BOTN 626 LINKAGE AND BIOMETRICAL GENETICS

Credit Hours - 4

Genetic linkage: detection and measurement of linkage; genetic mapping;  interference metrics.  Biometrical genetics; analysis of means, variances and covariances of parental and derived populations; estimation of number of genes controlling a metric character

BOTN 625 BIOMETRY FOR GENETICS

Credit Hours - 4

Biometry.  Statistical methods:  analysis of variance; factorial experimentation; multivariate analysis. Classification and ordination. Maximum likelihood method of statistical estimation. Algebra: matrix algebra;  complex numbers.  Calculus: maxima and minima; partial differentiation;  differential equations;  growth functions.  Systems theory.  Catastrophe theory.  Chaos and fractals.  Use of computers: DOS, word processing, spreadsheet, database, statistical packages, introduction to programming.  Remote Sensing Applications and Geographical Information Systems (Physical basis of remote sensing; remote sensing programmes; image processing and interpretation; ground truthing; applications; nature of spatial data and their interpretation; geographical information systems;  solution in spatial analysis).

BOTN 624 GENETIC RESOURCES

Credit Hours - 4

The following main aspects, main levels and main stages of  Genetic Resources will be treated:

Levels of Action:   International/regional, Subregional/National/District, Community. Group: 

Public sector, Private sector, NGO, Go.  Aspects: Area Planning/Identification/Collecting/ Conservation and  Maintenance/ Evaluation/Documentation and Information/Exchange of materials/Enhance use /Financial & Economic/Monitoring/Training & Education/Legal and Legislative/Collaboration.  Specific topics:  Conventional and molecular approaches to breeding.  Genetic resources/Genetic diversity.  Varieties. Molecular and classical genetics. In Vitro culture. Cytology and ploidy.  Reproductive behaviour.  Evolution and taxonomy. Stress tolerance.  Disease and pest resistance.  Quality and yield components.  Intellectual property  rights. Bio-safety.  Comment:  Special attention will be paid to issues of particular Regions of the World:  Africa, The West Africa, Ghana: Including indigenous knowledge and practices of genetic conservation.     

BOTN 623 PLANT MOLECULAR GENETICS GENETIC ENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Credit Hours - 4

Molecular genetics and genetic engineering.  Review of structure of DNA,  RNA,  Gene. Review of protein synthesis.  Enzymes. Nucleases.  Restriction enzymes.  Enzymes used in Recombinant DNA Technology.  Vectors and Hosts.  Plasmids. Viruses.  E. coli.  Yeasts. Other hosts.  Recombinant techniques.  Basic concepts.   Cutting and joining of DNA molecules.  Cloning. Nucleotide sequencing and hybridisation. Applications:  Applications in Biology and Medicine.  Industrial application.  Precautions and regulations.  Nonrecombinant genetic engineering.  Techniques for plant biotechnology:  Tissues culture methods;  Agrobacterium-mediated transformations. 

BOTN 622 PLANT BREEDING AND EVOLUTION OF CROP PLANTS

Credit Hours - 4

Introduction.  Implications of pollination mechanisms in plant breeding.  Mode of reproduction in relation to plant breeding. Autogamy.  Evolutionary aspects of autogamy.  Mechanisms of autogamy.  Management of pollination in autogamous crops.  Controlled pollination. Allogamy.  Sexual reproduction;  Structures and functions.  Control and modification of sex.  Sex expression in some economic crops and crop improvement.  Incompatibility. Male sterility.  Polyploidy in plant breeding. aneuploidy in plant breeding.  Mutation breeding. 

BOTN 621 CYTOGENETICS

Credit Hours - 4

Mitosis and the karyotype;  anomalies of mitosis; chromosome structure.  Meiosis. Synapsis. Synaptinemal complex.  Crossing-over.  Chiasma formation and chromatid interference. Anomalous meiosis.  Structural changes in chromosomes.  Deficiencies. Duplications. Inversions.  Interchanges.  Oenothera cytogenetics.  Changes in chromosome number. Aneuploidy.  Polyploidy.  Applications of polyploidy.  Sex determination  (chromosomal basis)  Chromosome and karyotype evolution.  Chromosomal polymorphisms and their role in evolution.  The mucleolus. 

BOTN 616 CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

Credit Hours - 3

Biodiversity at the intraspecific (gene), species and ecosystem levels.  Value of Biodiversity; problems in the economic valuation of biodiversity.  Conservation of Biodiversity; conservation of endangered species.  Species survival.  Genetic conservation.  Ecosystems restoration of rehabilitation.  Agro-ecology. 

BOTN 615 SYNECOLOGY

Credit Hours - 3

Qualitative and quantitative description of vegetation.  Life from classification of  vegetation. Vegetation dynamics.  Predation and herbivores.  Vegetation of West Africa.   History of vegetation;  palaeobotany. Plant geography;  plant distribution

BOTN 614 POPULATION ECOLOGY

Credit Hours - 4

Population ecology of the single species. Growth of single population.  Application of Leslie Matrices to change in population composition. Tree demography; leaf demography. Interaction of two species.  k- species interaction.  Spatial patterns  in 1-species population: aggregation. Diffusion, patterns of ecological maps. Spatial patterns of two or more species. Association between pairs of species.  Segregation between 2 species; segregation among many species (n-phase mosaics);  patterns in zoned communities. Many species populations: species abundance; species diversity, stability and resilience; ecological diversity; classification of communities;  ordination of continuously varying communities;  canonical variate analysis and multiple discriminant analysis. Population and habitat vibrant analysis (Lacy:  see Species 25:1) Problems of mathematical bioeconomics: optimal management of renewable resources (Clark).     

BOTN 613 ECOLOGICAL METHODS

Credit Hours - 4

Photography;  Field equipment for surveying and for measuring of meteorological factors; Field taxonomy: identification, collection for the herbarium

BOTN 612 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Credit Hours - 4

Landmarks in the study of the Environment:  Stockholm Conference;  World Conservation Strategy;  Our Common Future  (Brundtland report);  Planet Earth in Jeopardy;  Caring for the Earth;  Agenda 21; Ascend 21;  The Biodiversity Convention;  The Climate Change Convention; CITES, RAMSAR. Biodiversity  theory. Other initiatives; Forest, CSD, Desertification.  Ghana’s Environmental Action Plan;  reviews of the implementation of Ghana’s Environmental Action Programme.  Ghana’s inventory of Biodiversity (including Genetic Resources). Greenhouse effect; Climate change. Likely impacts of climate change especially on agriculture and on health. Biogeochemical cycles Environmental (and health) Impact Assessment.  Environmental management for vector control; the Volta Dam and the Weija Dam. Environmental education. Environmental law. Environmental policy Institutions in Ghana and international institutions concerned with environmental protection and conservation. Conservation; conservation of endangered species. Species survival. Genetic conservation. Global problem: Pollution and exptoxicology; Nuclear (radionuclides) pollution.  Global problem:  Release of genetically engineered organisms in the environment. Natural disasters; disaster preparedness.   Interdisciplinary approaches to the definition and solution of environmental problems. Integrated River Basin Management; Densu Basin; Volta Basin; Senegal Basin; Zambezi Basin;  Mekong Basion. Integrated Coastal Zone Management. COMA model for West Africa. Ecosystem restoration or rehabilitation. Agroecology.  Principles of environmental economics.

BOTN 611 AUTECOLOGY

Credit Hours - 3

Plant and water (effects on plant growth and development and on distribution).  Adaptations of mesophytes, xerophytes. Hydrophytes;  adaptations of halophytes.  Plant and light.  Sun and shade leaves.  Plant and temperature.  Plant and fire.  Raunkiaerian life forms.  Ecology of flowering and pollination; plant and pollinator interactions. Phenology  Adaptive strategies of witchweed (Striga hermonthica), (Eichhornia Crassiped), Tapinanthus bangwensis, Sian weed (Chromolaena Odorata).

BOTN 661 BIOMETRY (FOR PLANT ANATOMY ECOLOGY GENETICS)

Credit Hours - 2

  1. Statistical methods:  analysis of variance; f actorial experimentation;  multivariate analysis.  Classification and ordination.  Algebra: matrix algebra;  complex numbers. Calculus:  maxima and minima;  partial differentiation;  differential equations; growth functions.  Systems theory. Chaos and fractals.

For Genetics:  Maximum likelihood method of statistical estimation

BOTN 605 PLANT ANATOMICAL METHODS

Credit Hours - 4

Microscopy;  Microtechnique;  Photomicrography; Nomarski interference Microscopy; introduction to scanning electron Microscopy;  introduction to Transmission Electron Microscopy.

BOTN 604 CYTOLOGY

Credit Hours - 4

Cytological techniques; Pixation; Cytological methods - fluorescence microscopy, metachromasia, Histochemistry, Histoimmunulogy, Autoradiography, Tissue culture, Biological computing, Cytophotometry, Instrumentation; Optical microscopy (phase contrast, interference microscopy), electron microscopy, x-ray microscopy, x-ray diffraction.  Protoplasm.  Viruses and prokaryotes.  Extraprotoplast material; the cell wall

BOTN 603 APPLIED PLANT ANATOMY

Credit Hours - 4

This course delves into the application of the study of plant anatomy.  The course will discuss the following broad areas: plant identification in biological research and social issues, classification and phylogeny; plant pathology, food adulterations and contaminations, dendrochronology, ecological plant anatomy, crime scene detection and animal feeding habits. The use of plant anatomy in the study of pharmacognosy will be emphasized

BOTN 602 ANATOMY OF THE FLOWER FRUIT AND SEED

Credit Hours - 4

The Flower, Concept;  Structure; Origin and Development; Abscission.  Palynology. Embryology.  The Fruit:  Definition and Classification;  Fruit wall and Periocarp;  Histology of the Fruit Wall;  Abscission. The Seed:  Seed in relation to Ovule;  Embryo;  Storage Tissue;  Seed coat; Nutrition aspects in relation to seed development

BOTN 601 VEGETATIVE PLANT ANATOMY

Credit Hours - 4

The protoplast.  The Cell Wall.  Meristems and differentiation.  Apical Meristem.

 The Vascular Cambium.  The Epidermis.  Parenchyma. Collencyma.  Sclerenchyma. Xylem.  Phloem.  Secretory structures.  The Periderm. The Stem.  The Leaf.  Anomalous Structure.