K. SIVAKUMAR
Laboratory studies constitute an integral and important aspect in thestudy of science subjects. Botany in particular is a subject heavily orientedon practical study. A proper comprehension of the subject matteris possible only in the laboratory. Laboratory manuals play an importantrole in helping the students to properly guide them in purpose of study,scope of study and details required for a practical study.Practical manual of algae aims to provide the students all they needto know about the practical aspects such as morphological characters, internalstructure if any and systematic identification. A number of labelleddiagrams included in the text are meant to help the student’s comprehensionof the subject.This manual 'Algae - A Practical Approach' deals with all the basicrequirements in the botany laboratory that a student should know. Theworking of compound microscope, the most important tool in the laboratoryis explained in great detail in the introduction, along with variousprocedures of study such as section cutting, staining, mounting, etc.,working principles of electron microscopy and material preparation forscanning and transmission electron microscopic studies. General charactersand classification of algae with all essential descriptions and identificationof representative members of various classes of algae have been providedin this manual.With the increased awareness of importance of laboratory studies,this manual should serve as an important aid to help students familiarizethemselves with laboratory methods in botany.
