79447 - Plant Biochemistry And Analytical Chemistry

Learning outcomes

The course will provide a comprehensive knowledge of plant and soil chemistry. The student will achieve the ability to evaluate and manage soil fertility to increase crop production and quality and, at the same time, minimize the environmental impact. The student will also acquire the basic knowledge on the analysis of the major plant  secondary metabolites.

Course contents

Course Unit 1. Soil fertility (total 30 numbers of credits). The student at the end of the course will get the ability to evaluate the soil fertility from a physical, chemical and biochemical viewpoint. Students shall be able to manage it and to increase it, if necessary, according to the target of production fixed and environmental aspects. Biogeochemical cycles. Nitrogen: fixation, mineralization, immobilization, organication, nitrification and denitrification. Phosphate: mineralization of the organic phosphorus. Sulphur: reduction of sulphate and oxidation of Sulphur. Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and  Iron. Fertilizers and factors affecting fertilizers uses. Criteria to assess nitrogen mineralization of organic fertilizers and amendments. Evaluation of the soil fertility. Organic farming. Recycling and use of biomasses of agro-industrial origin in agriculture.

Course Unit 2. Secondary metabolism of horticultural plants (total 30 numbers of credits). The course introduces into analysis and bioactivity of secondary plant metabolites. Different classes of bioactive substances will be covered. A practical part deals with the isolation, identification and quantification of natural components and testing the bioactive (mainly antioxidative) capacity of the isolated substances. Competence in advanced analytics of secondary metabolites from plants including extraction, identification of structures, quantification. Primary metabolism vs secondary metabolism. Function of secondary metabolites. The classes of secondary metabolites: Terpenes, Alkaloids, Phenols. Biosynthesis of terpenoids. Biosynthesis of phenols or shikimate pathway. Analytical methods: Principle of Spectroscopy (IR, Raman and UV-Vis). Principle of Chromatography (GC, HPLC).

Readings/Bibliography

Biochemistry of plant secondary metabolism / edited by Michael Wink Sheffield : Sheffield academic; Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC, 1999

Mengel K. and Kirkby E. A. (2001). Principles of Plant Nutrition. 5th Edition. Pp. 849. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, London.

Marschner H. (1995). Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. 2nd Ed. Academic Press

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures (36 hours) and practices (24 hours) represented by seminars offered by visiting professors from other institutions, to integrate the instructor's lectures.

Assessment methods

Oral exam is a seminar on an argument related to a specific topic of both unit course. The duration of the presentation is estimated at around 30 minutes. The final grade is assigned based on the degree of preparation of the student and especially about its capabilities and critical connection between different subjects.

Teaching tools

Video projector, PC, overhead projector and articles

Office hours

See the website of Ornella Francioso