INTEGRATED COURSE IN PLANT BIOLOGY AND PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- LORENZO FERRONI
- Credits
- 12
- Curriculum
- BIOTECNOLOGIE PER L'AMBIENTE E L'AGRO-INDUSTRIA
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
Training objectives
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Modulo: 000445 - FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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Plant Physiology is a field of life sciences that deals with the study of the molecular basis of plant functions, with particular emphasis on the photosynthetic metabolism. Among the issues treated are general aspects, such as the morphophysiology, ecophysiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of plants, and other more specific features, such as the photobiology, bioenergetics, growth regulators and the plant secondary metabolism. The subject deals with the study of both basic mechanisms of the functioning of plants, and practical applications, among which the increase of crop productivity and plant biotechnology.
The main objective of the course is to provide students with the concepts and the knowledge for understanding the main plant functions and the underlying structures at the molecular level, those that allow its autotrophic growth and the completion of its life cycle even in the absence of either the ability to move about, a central nervous system or a closed circulatory system. In this perspective, a special emphasis is placed on distinct plant features that are different from those in animals.
The student:
• will know the mechanisms underlying the main biological processes in the plants at the molecular level;
• will know the mechanisms by which plants are able to convert light into chemical energy;
• will know the mechanisms that allow plants to obtain mineral nutrients from the environment;
• will know the main pathways and their integration in both basal and secondary plant metabolism
• will know how plants react to environmental stimuli by means of hormones and photoreceptors.
The studenti will be able:
• to understand the main physiological processes during plant development;
• to understand and predict the mechanisms by which plants react to changes in environmental conditions;
• to exploit the knowledge of techniques to investigate the main physiological processes in plants and to plan a basic experimental protocol;
• to use the basic techniques in plant biotechnology.
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Modulo: 20804 - BIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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The Plant Biology module aims to provide students with elements on the structure, function and development of plant organisms, interpreting them in terms of adaptation to the environment.
Upon completion of the module, the student should be able to:
- describe the structures of plants, from cellular to organism level;
- describe how plants reproduce;
- relate structures to specific functions;
- interpret plant structures as the result of developmental processes;
- use light microscopy for the purpose of diagnosis of plant materials. Prerequisites
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Modulo: 000445 - FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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No prerequisites are required. However, the student should have basic knowledge of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biophysics and biochemistry, and a solid understanding of both the basics of cell biology, with particular attention to the plant cell, and the scientific method and its terminology.
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Modulo: 20804 - BIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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Basic knowledge of general and organic chemistry, physics and general biology. Course programme
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Modulo: 000445 - FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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In the Plant Physiology unit the lectures will cover the following topics:
Why study plants? (1 h)
The photosynthetic metabolism: photosynthetic pigments and the capture of the light; photosystems II and I, and the electron transport chain; NADP+ reduction and non-cyclic photophosphorylation; quinone cycle and cyclic photophosphorylation; CO2 fixation: the Calvin Cycle and its regulation; photorespiratory oxydation and the C2 Cycle; the C4 Carbon Cycle and the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism; mechanisms for dissipating excess light energy; photosynthetic responses to light and carbon dioxide. (12 h)
Water and transport across the cell; water potential; water transport through the xylem. Transport of ions; electrochemical potential; channels and carriers; secondary active transport. Translocation in the phloem. Lipid metabolism and conversion of storage lipids into carbohydrates in the seed. (8 h)
Assimilation of mineral nutrient. Soil composition. Nitrogen biogeochemical cycle, nitrate reduction and ammonia assimilation. Biological nitrogen fixation by free-living and symbiotic bacteria. Phosphate assimilation and mycorrhizal symbioses. Sulfur and iron assimilation. Liebig's and diminishing returns laws. Mineral deficiencies and principles of crop fertilization. (6 h)
Growth and development. Plant tropisms; auxin, cytokinins and gibberellins; plant cell cultures and plant biotechnology; ethylene and abscisic acid. (9)
Plants and the environment. Light perception: phytochromes and cryptochromes; the control of flowering and floral organ development; circadian rhythms, flowering and vernalization. (4)
Lab practice (10 h):
• Chromatographic separation of photosynthetic pigments
• Light-driven ferricyanide reduction by isolated spinach chloroplasts
• Quantification of phytonutrients in some foods
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Modulo: 20804 - BIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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The Plant Biology module deals with:
(1) The plant cell (ca. 12 h)
Nutrition and relative surface area; meristematic and adult cells; embryonic growth and cell distension; cell interactions. Cell wall: composition, biogenesis, structure and secondary modifications. Vacuoles: structure, biogenesis, contents and significance. Plastids: endosymbiotic origin; the proplastid and its differentiation into mature plastids.
(2) Cell associations (ca. 10 h)
Body organization and plant diversity (algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, pteridophytes, spermatophytes). Thalli versus the body of vascular plants; pseudo-tissues and true tissues. Meristematic tissues. Differentiation of the permanent tissues: parenchyma ground tissues; dermal tissues; mechanical tissues; conducting tissues and vascular bundles; some notes on secretory tissues.
(3) Organography (ca. 10 h)
Seedling development and general organization of the plant body. The axial organs: stem and root, from the apical meristem to the region of primary structure; development and activity of the vascular cambium and the cork cambium. Leaves: organogenesis and anatomy. Examples of plant organ adaptation. Some notes on mycorrhizae.
(4) Reproduction (ca. 8 h)
Plant reproduction; alternation of nuclear phases and generations; the principal types of life cycles.
The flower of angiosperms: morphology, development and function; male and female gametophytes; double fertilization; seeds and their relevance for the human nutrition; development and significance of the fruit.
(5) Laboratory practice (10 h)
The laboratory practice trains the student to use a light microscope for the observation of plant specimens, in particular: examples of plant cells, examination of starch granules, leaf epidermis, microscopical anatomy of the plant organs, identification of common pericarps. Didactic methods
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Modulo: 000445 - FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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The Plant Physiology unit consists of theoretical lessons and guided experimental activities in the Laboratory at the SVeB Department. In more detail, the course load is 50 hours (6 ECTS), 40 hours of which are taught the classroom, and 10 hours are spent in the laboratory. Classes are held weekly in the classroom, using powerpoint slides.
To help students to assess their level of preparation, at regular intervals 4 lectures are devoted to self-assessment tests: the teacher asks a dozen questions on the topics covered during the last weeks, allowing the students some think time to answer; then, the questions are answered by the teacher, with a quick review of the related subjects, giving the student an immediate feedback on the correctness of his/her answer.
For the laboratory practice, students are divided into groups (3 students per group).
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Modulo: 20804 - BIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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The Plant Biology module is structured in theoretical lectures and guided lab practice in the Botany Laboratory of the Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences. Specifically, there are a total of 50 hours of teaching (6 CFUs), of which 40 hours are lecture and 10 hours are lab work. Lectures take place weekly in the classroom, supported by the projection of presentations and the use of classical blackboard. Discussion time with students is provided. Learning assessment procedures
- The exam aims at verifying the student's level of knowledge and understanding of the subjects, and the student's ability to discuss and explain the key concepts. The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths (minimum rate 18/30) and is calculated as the mean of the two units (PB and PP), provided that for both units the students has obtained a score of at least 18. For both units, the exam can be written or oral, at the student’s choice.
For the PB unit, a written, multiple-choice exam is offered at the end of the course. The test consists of 32 multiple-choice questions spanning all over the course programme (plant cells, cell associations, organography, reproduction, laboratory). A student will select the correct answers based on his/her knowledge of and ability to apply the course contents, helped by a good use of scientific terms and an ability to link the different subjects learnt during the course. Correct answers score 1 point, while incorrect or missing are assigned 0 points. The test is passed with scores equal or higher than 18.
After the first session, the oral exam is the normal option and consists of a discussion of four subjects proposed by the examiner to the student. The exam is passed if the candidate shows a sufficient knowledge for each of the four subjects.
The final exam for PP is aimed to verify the student's level of knowledge and understanding of the subject, and the student's ability to discuss and explain the key concepts.
The exam may be written or oral, at the student's choice.
The written exam is offered twice a year, at the end of the course. It consists of 42 questions (about one for each lecture) requiring short open answers or multiple-choice answers. The exactness and the completeness of each answer is evaluated and scored 1 point (correct), 0.5 point (incomplete or only partially correct), or 0 point (incorrect or missing). A total score of at least 18 is needed to pass the exam.
The oral exam if offered both at the end of the course and throughout the academic year. It usually consists of 3 or 4 questions (the first one about the photosynthetic metabolism; the second one about the mineral nutrition; the third one about one of the hormone-regulated processes, and the last one concerning another of the topics covered by the course). The exam is not successfully passed if the student completely fails to answer or address one of the questions, or if he/she simply makes statements without having an adequate understanding of underlying processes. The final score takes into account both the knowledge and reasoning skills demonstrated by the student.
In the event that the health situation may not allow for classroom sessions, the examinations will be conducted using alternative remote modes. Reference texts
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Modulo: 000445 - FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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Suggested textbook:
L. Taiz and E. Zeiger, Plant Physiology and Development, 6th edition, 2015, Sinauer Associates Inc, Sunderland MS (previous editions are also suitable).
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Modulo: 20804 - BIOLOGIA VEGETALE
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For the Plant Biology module, one of the following textbooks or similar:
Pancaldi et al., Fondamenti di Botanica Generale - teoria e pratica in Laboratorio, McGraw-Hill, Milano, 2022. [only in Italian]
Evert and Eichhorn, Raven’s Biology of Plants, 8th edition, Freeman/Palgrave Macmillan, 2013
Mauseth, Botany, an Introduction to Plant Biology, 4th edition, Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2011
