66989 - Plant Biology and Diversity (A-L)

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will have a basic understanding of plant biology at the cytological, histological, anatomical, and evolutionary levels, including aspects of reproduction, differentiation, physiology, and plant biodiversity. They will also acquire knowledge of taxa that perform oxygenic photosynthesis, including those belonging to the Prokaryotes and Protists. They will also be familiar with modern applications and study methodologies.

Course contents

LEARNING MODULE I_PLANT BIOLOGY

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.

 

Module 2: BIODIVERSITY
Origin and evolutionary history of life on Earth. Taxonomy and systematics. Phylogenetic classification. Monophyletic, paraphyletic, and polyphyletic groups (clades). Cyanobacteria (and Prochlorophytes). Endosymbiosis. Characterization and life cycles of the main groups of plant organisms (photoautotrophs). Overview of algae. Algal groups considered ancestors of terrestrial plants. Green algae. Lichens. Red algae. Dinoflagellates. Algal blooms. Diatoms. Brown algae. Bryophytes. Pteridophytes. Gymnosperms. Angiosperms: origin, basal groups, Mesangiosperms. In-depth studies on Magnoliaceae, Orchidaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae.

Readings/Bibliography

- JD Mauseth et al, BOTANICA - Fondamenti di Biologia delle Piante. IV edizione italiana. Coordinamento editoriale D Serafini Fracassini e M. Della Mea. 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 examination, common to both modules, consists of a written test and an oral examination.

The written test includes: two short-answer open-ended questions related to the Plant Biology module, the identification of a microscopic specimen, and one question related to the Plant Diversity module.

Passing the written test is required in order to access the oral examination, which will consist of the oral presentation of selected topics covered during the lectures.

The final grade is calculated as the weighted average of the results obtained in the two modules. If the answer to a question on a fundamental topic is seriously inadequate, this may result in an overall failing grade for the examination.

AI can be a useful tool to support individual study with in-depth analysis, summaries, and self-assessment pathways. With regard to the assessment of learning, during the in-person exam the use of AI is prohibited. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Iris Aloisi

See the website of Marco Cantonati