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. 

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.  

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

Seminars. Articles. Slides. 

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.  

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

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)