66989 - Plant Biology and Diversity (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

The student will learn basic computer skills, with the ability to apply them to data processing and presentation.

Course contents

INTRODUCTION: Articulations of plant biology and historical milestones. Study methodologies. Main characteristics and utility of plants. Plant nutrition (autotrophy and eterotrophy). Chemical components of living organisms (water, micronutrients, sugars,proteins and lipids).

CITOLOGY:Plant cell of vascular plants (morphology, dimension and organization).Peculiar aspects of fungal and algae cells. Structure and function of organelles. Plastids: ontogenesis and transformation of plastids. Non green plastids (leucoplast, cromoplast ed etioplast) and chloroplast (morphology, dimension, ultrastructure, pigments, plastidial genome). Algae plastids. Vacuols. Golgi. Microcorps. Cell wall and its modifications. Cell growth (mitosis, cytodieresis, cell elongation, differentiation).

HISTOLOGY AND  ANATOMY of vascular plants: Kind of tissue and their functions. Root, stem, leaf, flower, fruits anatomy and organography. Primary structure of stem and root.

PHYSIOLOGY: Carbon cycle. Photosynthetic pigments (chemical structure, functions and light absorbance). Photosynthetic unit. Carbon organication: light and dark photosynthetic phase; C3 and C4 cycles; CAM. Photorespiration. Nitrogen cycle. Noitrogen organication. Secondary metabolites (their function in plant and main utilizations by humans). Water absorption and transport.

RIPRODUCTION  vascular plants. Embriogenesis. Seed and seed germination. Vegetative propagation.

MORPHOGENESIS: Differentiation, growth and development. Programmed cell death. Plant hormons. In vitro coltures. Biotechnologies and plant.

BIODIVERSITY: Origin and evolutionary history of life on Earth. Taxonomy and systematics. Phylogenetic classification. Monophyletic, paraphyletic, and polyphyletic group (clade). Cyanoprokaryotes (and Prochlorophytes). Endosymbiosis. Characterization and life cycles of the main groups of plant-like organisms (photoautotrophs) and fungi. Overview of algae and algal groups believed to be ancestors of terrestrial plants. Green algae. Lichens. Red algae. Dinoflagellates. Algal blooms. Diatoms. Brown algae. Bryophytes. Pteridophytes. Gymnosperms. Angiosperms: origin, basal groups, central groups. Insights on Magnoliaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Liliaceae, Solanaceae, Poaceae.

Readings/Bibliography

TESTI –

- JD Mauseth 

BOTANICA - Fondamenti di Biologia delle Piante. IV edizione italiana

Coordinamento editoriale D Serafini Fracassini e M. Della Mea

Casa Editrice Idelson-Gnocchi 2020

 

-Speranza A. e Calzoni G.L. - STRUTTURA DELLE PIANTE IN IMMAGINE - Zanichelli, 2000

Teaching methods

Oral presentations preliminary to the practical laboratories by observations at the microscope.

In consideration of the type of activity and the teaching methods adopted, the attendance of this training activity requires the prior participation of all students in the training modules 1 and 2 on safety in the study places, in e-learning mode.

Assessment methods

The joint exam for the two modules consists of a first written and an oral part. The written part consists of a multi-answer test with 9 questions relating to the plant biology module (each question has 4 answers among which it is necessary to indicate the correct one (s)), supplemented by 1 question with open answer relating to the plant diversity module , and the recognition of a microscopic image relating to plant tissues and organs. It is necessary to pass the test to access the oral part which will consist in the recognition of microscopic preparations and possibly in the verification of a paper, prepared by the student during the Laboratory, and in the answer to some questions on topics covered in the lectures. The plant diversity part consists in the discussion of the open answer to the question in the written test supplemented by another question on a topic covered in the lectures. The vote results from the overall evaluation of the various parts. If the answer on a fundamental topic is seriously insufficient, this will constitute an element to evaluate the evidence as insufficient.

Teaching tools

Video projector for power points prepared by the teacher. Eventual seminars. Practical laboratories complete the course by the use of microscopes.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Del Duca

See the website of Marco Cantonati

See the website of Maura Ferri