00445 - Plant Physiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student assimilates with a critical and in-depth view, at the molecular level, the main themes of plant physiology (transport, photosynthesis, metabolism, mineral nutrition, photomorphogenesis and hormonal regulation), also taking advantage of an intensive personalized laboratory.

Course contents

Membrane transport and cellular water relations. Proton pumps in plant cells. Electrochemical potential of solutes and transport across membranes. Forces affecting water movement at the cellular level: hydrostatic and osmotic pressure. Water potential and its components. Stomatal opening/closing mechanisms.

Long-distance water transport. Soil water potential. Soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Transpiration and cohesion-tension theory. Water potential in the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis and metabolism. An integrated view of photosynthesis and metabolism. Light phase: light, chloroplasts, photosynthetic pigments; structure and function of photosystem II; cytochrome b6f and the Q cycle; photosystem I; chloroplast ATP synthase; Z-scheme; linear and cyclic photosynthetic transport; parallels between photosynthetic electron transport and the mitochondrial respiratory chain in plants. Metabolic phase: Rubisco and the Calvin Benson cycle; Photorespiration; C4 metabolism; thioredoxins and light/dark metabolic regulation; net photosynthesis; day/night starch and sucrose metabolism; sink-source relationships.

Mineral nutrition. Essential nutrients. Iron absorption (Strategy I and II). Nitrate absorption and reduction to ammonium. Ammonium assimilation. Biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids and glyphosate.

Readings/Bibliography

Rascio N (2021) Elementi di Fisiologia vegetale. EdiSES, third edition

Teaching methods

The course will consists in lectures with projection of pictures and diagrams (power point). Questions are always welcome, both during and after the lectures.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written test and an oral examination. Only students who have passed the threshold of sufficiency in the written test are admitted at the oral examination.

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.

Teaching tools

The course will take place in classrooms with PC projection. All lectures will be given with power point presentations, and often with the aid of the blackboard. The files of power point presentations will be made available to students (IOL).

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Bernardo Trost

See the website of Mirko Zaffagnini