59157 - Plants, Environment and Society

Learning outcomes

The student will acquire knowledge about the relationship between plants and environment and the consequent implications on the society. Different aspects of the modern or alternative use of plants will be taken into consideration and the student will be able to associate plant structural and functional characteristics with their influence upon environmental and economical sustainability and human health. By means of laboratory experiences, the student will realise how science (in particular plant biotechnology) is the basis of technology and knowledge progress for the use of plant in modern society. Specific student interests will be valorised and personal detailed study will be encouraged.

Course contents

The course will deal with different aspects of the use of plants in the modern society.

Lectures (Module 1) Prof. Ferri

• Cell cultures of plant tissues and organs. Applications to the production and regeneration of new plants. Applications to the production of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical compounds. The active metabolites of plant origin and their use for human health.
• Transgenic plants. How to produce them and what are they useful for. Italian, European and world regulations. How does society perceives them? What is their real impact on the environment and human health? The study cases of golden rice and rainbow papaya.
• Plants and food. What to eat and how to eat it? Plants and human health (positive and negative aspects). Allergies and food and environmental intolerances: what is the role of plants?
• Phytoremediation: the use of plants in reducing environmental pollution.
• The plants as bio-indicators of pollution.
• Urban plants as bio-indicators of climate change.
• The plants as a source of energy. The use of plant organisms for the production of biofuels.
• Biorefineries: reuse of industrial and agricultural plant wastes for the production of energy and new molecules useful in daily life.
• What are bioplastics? Production of bioplastics and new sustainable materials from agro-industrial vegetable waste and residues.

Lectures (Module 2) Prof. Tassoni

• Ethnobotany and alimurgic plants: traditional uses of plants as food and medicines.
• Dyeing plants and natural fibers: traditions and modern uses.
• Positive and negative interactions of plants with human artifacts (monuments and architectural works).
• Palynology: the use of the study of pollen in different areas of modern society (e.g. the study of climate change, criminology, archeology, food contamination).

Readings/Bibliography

Power point presentations of the lessons downloadable from the Virtuale website. Use of scientific articles and book chapters on various topics provided by the teacher and also proposed by the students.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons with power point presentations.

The teaching activities will take place regularly in the presence.

Assessment methods

Choice of one topic in-line with the phylosophy of the course and after agreement with the teacher and preparation (with use of bibliography researched by the student) of a 20-minute power point presentation to be publicly exposed to the teacher and fellow students.

Teaching tools

Power point lectures downloadable from the Virtuale platform.

Office hours

See the website of Maura Ferri

See the website of Annalisa Tassoni