PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Students should have a basic knowledge of plant biology, genetic and molecular biology.
The examination consists of an oral exam composed by a minimum of 4 randomly selected questions on course content topics.
The final exam is oral: the student must show
1) the understanding of the covered topics;
2) the ability to interconnect the acquired knowledge;
3) the completeness of the acquired knowledge;
4) the use of a proper terminology;
Active participation in the classroom during the course (questions, comments) will also be positively assessed.
The aim of this course is to provide a deep knowledge of plant structure and function, covering a range of plant processes such as water and nutrient transport, photosynthesis, metabolism, growth and development. Objective of this course is also to unravel the influence of the environmental changes on plants by investigating the physiological and molecular changes that occur in response to stress factors such as drought, elevated temperature, salinity and rising of CO₂.
At the end of this course, students will be able to comprehend in detail the main concepts of plant physiology; they will be able to describe the physiological mechanisms involved in growth and development and in the response to stresses. Thanks to the skills acquired, the students will be better able to understand the molecular processes by which plants can respond to climate change.
Osmotic adjustment and water balance of plants. Mechanism of water absorption by root. Movement of water towards xylem by apoplast and symplast pathway. Transpiration. Mineral nutrition of plants, deficiencies and assimilation of macroelements. Photosynthesis and respiration. C3, C4 and CAM plants. Primary and secondary metabolism. Regulation of plant growth and development. Plant hormones: auxin, giberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, jasmonate and salicylic acid. Photomorphogenesis. Photoperiodism. Plant response to environmental stresses
Elementi di Fisiologia Vegetale di Taiz e Zeiger. Piccin-Nuova Libraria.
Elementi di Fisiologia Vegetale di N.Rascio, EdiSES, seconda edizione.
The course is organized in lectures (48h). Powerpoint presentations will be used during lectures.
The slides presented during lectures will be available to students as online materials.
The teacher receives by appointment by email requests.