Teaching code

4S003258

Teacher

Tiziana Pandolfini

Coordinator

Tiziana Pandolfini

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/04 - PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

Period

Semester 1 dal Oct 3, 2022 al Jan 27, 2023.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

The objective of the course is the acquisition of the theoretical fundamentals of plant physiology. After attending the course, the students will be able to understand the principal plant metabolic processes and the physiological and molecular mechanisms regulating growth and development, and response to the environment.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Knowledge of the basics of plant anatomy and histology. These topics will be briefly introduced at the beginning of the course.

Program

The topics covered during the lessons are:
• Water transport in plants: chemical properties of water, mechanisms of water transport.
• Water balance of plants: movement of water in the soil, water absorption by roots, water transport through the xylem, transpiration and stomatal movements, control of stomatal opening. Water stress: physiological responses to drought.
• Mineral nutrition: the essential mineral nutrients, transport of mineral ions across membranes, membrane transport proteins, effects of mineral deficiencies.
• Photosynthesis: the light reactions: general concepts , the photosynthetic apparatus, light absorption, electron transport and ATP synthesis. The Calvin-Benson cycle and its regulation. Photorespiration. C4 and CAM metabolisms. Starch and sucrose synthesis and hydrolysis.
• Translocation in the phloem: the sink-source concept, phloem loading and unloading, allocation and partitioning of phosynthates.
• Respiration: general concepts and unique features of respiratory metabolism in plants
• Assimilation of nitrogen, sulphur and phosphate. Biological nitrogen fixation.
• Plant growth and development: signal transduction in plants, cell division and cell expansion, embryogenesis, meristematic tissues, plant life cycles.
• Photoresponses: phytochrome, phytochrome-induced responses and molecular mechanisms. Blu-light responses and photoreceptors.
• Phytohormones: biosynthesis, physiological effects and molecular modes of action of auxin, cytokinin, gibberellins, ethylene, abscisic acid , brassinosteroids, polyamines, jasmonic acid.
• Examples of genetic engineering applications to crop improvement.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Teaching is based on lectures sometimes combined with the viewing and discussion of video material in English.
In case of attendance restrictions due to COVID, supporting teaching materials (lecture recording) will be provided.

Learning assessment procedures

The examination consists of an oral interview lasting approximately 30 minutes, which will focus on the topics covered in the lecture and can be found in the recommended text; the examination format will be the same for attending and non-attending students.

Evaluation criteria

The exam will ascertain:
Students’ knowledge on the topics of the lectures;
The language accuracy used to communicate the knowledge acquired;
The ability to link the knowledge acquired to potential biotechnological applications.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

Evaluation of the interview outcome.

Exam language

Italiano