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Learning outcomes

Educational Aims: The teaching unit in Plant biochemistry offers and integrated view of basic aspects of the primary plant metabolism and of the integration betwen metabolic pathways. Major biochemical pathways are described in detail together with the methods used for their elucidation including biochemica, biophysical and genetic methods.

Educational aims: The teaching unit “Plant Physiology” aims to integrate the knowledge previously acquired in Plant biology and plant biochemistry to obtain an integrated view of the functioning of the plant organism using as a model an higher plant. The metabolic reactions will be inserted into the general plan of the plant organism at the cell, tissue, organ level. The sensing functions of the plant for environmental factors will be described together with their effect on plant development through the effect of plant ormons and of the reproductive cycle.

Program

plant Biochemistry teaching unit.

Program: autotrophy, heterotrophy, mixotrophy, chemiotrophy: evolution of energetic metabolism.

2)Structure of cell organelles in plants: Plastids ( proplastids, amiloplasts, chloroplasts,chromoplasts) cell wall, vacuole, mitochondrion

3) Endosimbiosis and plant evolution.


4) Biosinthesis of Chlorophyll and carotenoids.

5) Light-matter interactions, electronic transitions,fluorescence e phosphorescence of chlorophyll, energy transfer between chromophores by resonace(Foster law) and electron exchange (Dexter law), charge separation and recombination.

6)Strutture and function of the photosintetic apparatus, photosystem I, photosystem II, Cytochrome b6/f, ATPase, NADH deihydrogenase.

7) electron transport, proton transport and quinone cycle chemio-osmotic coupling.

8) regulation of energy distribution between PSI and PSII , state 1-state 2 transitions, lumenal pH and feed-back regulation of light reaction of photosynthesis. Quenching non-photochemical (NPQ) and plant productivity.

9) Bance between (fast (daylength) regulation and slow (> tree days) acclimation to environmental conditions.

9) Dark reactions: cycle of Calvin-Benson for CO2 fixation.

10) photorespiration( C2 cicle: CO2 compensation point, light compensation point.

11) C4 cicle ,CAM Cicle .

12) Productivity of photosynthesis theoretical vs real. Limiting factors in water and air.

13) Athmospheric Nitrogen fixation .

14) Assorbption and reduction of notrate. Organication of ammonium.

15) Nitrogen Cycle .

16) Sulphur Cycle, absorption and reduction of sulphate, symnthesis of organic sulphur .

17)hydrogen production from bacteria and unicellular algae.

18) Mineral elements essential for nutririon (outlines).



Bibliography
Buchanan, Gruissem & Jones : Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants.
Taiz & Zeiger : Plant Physiology.





1Introduction: what’s plant physiology and interaction with others disciplines. Methods of study. Implications and adaptations typical of autothophy and eterothrophy. Cytoplasm/mass ration in plants and animals.

Major difference between animal and plant cell.

Water. Osmosys, mass flow, water potential. Root absorption, Xilem: structure and function. Water flow in the xylem. "Cohesion tension theory". Cavitation and recovery. Origino f the absorption strength. Leaf, stomata and traspiration.

Structure and function of the biological membranes: ion transport, Energy dependent pransport, Nerst equativo, mechanismsms of solute transport.

Phisiology of mineral absorption, macro- and micro-nutrients. essential elements.

Pholem: structure and function. Pressure-flow hypothesis. loading , unloading and mass flow..

Cellulose biosynthesis and formation of cell wall. Extensibility, acid growth, expansins, polar growth. Role of Ca2+.

Cell cycle and growth: seed development, dormance and germination. Synthesis/degradation of recserves.

Perception and transmission of signals.

Plant Hormons Auxins, Abscissic acid (ABA), gibberellins, brassinosteroid, ethylene, cytokinins.

Phytochrome: photoactive proteins, light as information, photoperiodism.

Cryptochrome: blue and UVA response. Regulation of stomata opening. phototropism.

Examination Methods

d) Multiple choice questions. This part is propedeutical to the oral examination. A report

e) Oral. Discussion with teacher on the major subjects considered in the program. It is possible to chose a subject and prepare a powerpoint presentation on it.