Botany & Plant Biotechnology
Home » Faculties of Science » Departments »The Department of Botany & Plant Biotechnology is proud to be one of the few standalone botany departments in South Africa. We offer all the three core disciplines in the field i.e. Plant Taxonomy, Plant Anatomy and Plant Physiology, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition, we offer applied fields such as biotechnology and molecular biology. Furthermore, we present Life Sciences to BEd students registered in the Faculty of Education. Our research focuses on several aspects including anatomy, biotechnology, chemotaxonomy & ethnobotany, medicinal plants, pre & post-harvest physiology, plant taxonomy, systematics and agro-processing. The Department is host to a SARChI Chair in Indigenous Plant Use (one of three in the faculty) and a Research Centre in DNA Barcoding (one of six in the faculty).
Noticeboard
African Centre for DNA Barcoding
The mission of the African Centre for DNA Barcoding is to fill the knowledge gap and strengthen research frameworks for international, regional and inter-institutional co-operation in Africa, especially within the modern field of DNA technology for biodiversity science – such as DNA barcoding.
Indigenous Plant Use Forum
The IPUF was started to “promote the cultural, socio-economic and scientific benefits to be derived from the sustainable use of the southern African flora”.
Latest News
| View All NewsDimension Data Winter School, a Success
The Faculty of Science participated in the fifth successful Winter School held by the institution
Gold Medal for UJ Biochemistry Professor
The prestigious Gold Medal Award at this year’s South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular
Mammals, Spiny Plants and the Savanna Story
The origin and spread of savannas is one of the great mysteries in the earth’s