Plant biology: Past, present and future

Abstract

This chapter deals with a history of botanical science. Major advancements made in the ancient, medieval, Renaissance and modern periods in different subdisciplines are detailed. Particular emphasis has been provided to the importance of instruments and techniques that enabled these advancements. The importance of Arabidopsis as a model plant in contributing to modern botanical knowledge and in plant molecular biology is emphasized. The future of plant biology is briefly discussed. Arabidopsis-like researches must be extended to other plant taxa, especially those that are of economic value. Plants and ecosystems must be continued to be studied in order to save and sustain the earth in the context of population explosion not only of human but of animals as well.