PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE
| A.Y. | Credits |
|---|---|
| 2015/2016 | 6 |
| Lecturer | Office hours for students | |
|---|---|---|
| Valeria Scoccianti | Thursday from 10 to 12 a.m. at Sezione di Biologia vegetale, via Bramante 28, by appointment via mail |
Assigned to the Degree Course
| Date | Time | Classroom / Location |
|---|
Learning Objectives
The course is meant to provide students with knowledge about fundamental processes of plant functioning at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organismic levels and the interactions with abiotic and biotic environment.
Program
Typical features of plants and their distribution in the different natural ecosystems.
The plant cell. Structure, biogenesis and roles of the cell wall. Synthesis of cell wall constituents. Plasmodesmata. Cell wall expansion. Biological membranes. Membrane transport proteins. Proton pumps. Calcium pumps. Structure of chloroplast. Endosymbiotic origin. Plastidial DNA.
Photosynthesis. Light characteristics. Photosynthetic pigments. Structure of photosynthetic apparatus. Organization of light-absorbing antenna systems. Mechanisms of electron and proton transport. The Calvin Cycle. Biosynthesis, regulation and importance in the biosphere of Rubisco. The photorespiratory carbon oxidation cycle. The C4 carbon cycle. Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. Physiological and ecological considerations. Synthesis of sucrose, starch and fructans.
Translocation in the phloem. Sources and sinks. Materials translocated. Phloem loading.The pressure-flow model.
Water balance in the plant. Water potential gradient. Changes in turgor pressure. Water absorption by the root. Apoplast and symplast pathways. Transport through xylem. Stomatal transpiration. Guard cells structure. Stomatal opening mechanism.
Mineral nutrition. Essential nutrients. Effect of soil particles on mineral absorption. Rhizosphere and root exudates. Heavy metal accumulation in plants. Phytoremediation. Association of mycorrhizal fungi with the root system. Ion transport in roots. Nitrate assimilation. Ammonium assimilation. Biological nitrogen fixation. Symbiotic N2 fixation. Carnivore plants. Sulphate assimilation.
Plant hormones. Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Ethylene, Abscisic Acid, Brassinosteroids: discovery, biosynthesis, transport, metabolism and physiological effects.
Light responses Photomorphogenesis. Photoperiodic regulation of flowering. Phototropism. Red light (phytocrome) and UV-A/blue photoreceptors.
Seed germination. Glucidic, lipidic and proteinic reserves mobilization. Seedling growth.
Secondary products and plant defense mechanisms.
Teaching Material
The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it
Supporting Activities
Seminars. Articles. Slides.
Teaching, Attendance, Course Books and Assessment
- Teaching
The course will be taught by lectures.
- Attendance
-
Attendance is not compulsory, but it is highly recommended.
- Course books
Elementi di Fisiologia Vegetale. Autori vari. EdiSES S.r.l. Napoli
or
Elementi di Fisiologia Vegetale. Taiz-Zeiger. Piccin Nuova Libraria, Padova. Riduzione della quinta edizione di lingua inglese a cura di Massimo Maffei.
Further readings
Iaccarino et al. Microrganismi benefici per le piante. Idelson-Gnocchi
Lorenzini - Nali. Le piante e l'inquinamento dell'aria. Springer
Articoli forniti dal docente.L.Taiz-E. Zeiger: Plant Physiology. fifth edition. Sinauer Associate, Inc. (http://www.sinauer.com publish@sinauer.com)
- Assessment
At the end of the course, there will be an oral exam. Students are expected to answer a few questions (three or four), and be able to connect different topics together.
- Disabilità e DSA
Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.
A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.
Notes
Students wishing to take exam in English must study the following materials in the foreign language:
L.Taiz-E. Zeiger: Plant Physiology. fifth edition. Sinauer Associate, Inc. (http://www.sinauer.com publish@sinauer.com)
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