The department was founded in 1906 by Prof. Dr. Ladislav František Čelakovský, making it one of the founding departments of the entire university. We offer a range of basic botanical and physiological courses. The department has a long tradition of organizing professional seminars and providing consultation and advisory services to the general public. Another tradition is the organization of the international scientific seminar "The Influence of Abiotic and Biotic Stressors on Plant Properties" and participation in the international event "Plant Fascination Day."
Scientific research
We focus primarily on the biology of agricultural and horticultural crops and their production process, including the methodology for detecting and evaluating the physiological responses of plants to stress, as well as the study of genetic resources of fruit trees and their breeding and vegetation studies of anthropogenically influenced areas. In solving research tasks, the department cooperates primarily with the Department of Genetics and Microbiology of the Faculty of Science, Charles University. It also cooperates with the Department of Agronomy and Ecophysiology of INP-ENSAT Toulouse, the Department of Field Crops and the Department of Biology of Ege University in Izmir, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, and the Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Zvolen. Within the Czech Republic, we also cooperate with the Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Research Institute of Crop Production, Fruit Research and Breeding Institute Holovousy s.r.o. and the Hop Research Institute, s.r.o.
Teaching
We provide teaching in botanical and physiological disciplines at all levels of university study in the relevant fields, including the University of the Third Age, and we guarantee the Master's degree program in Management of Planting and Maintenance of Greenery. We also guarantee practical field trips.
Consulting and cooperation with industry
We provide long-term consultations on the effects of stress, the use of biomass for energy purposes, and for the general public – taxon determination, guided tours of nature trails, the CZU campus, and botanical gardens. We organize, co-organize, lead, and actively participate in many conferences, workshops, and seminars, including professional excursions.
