90814 - Plant Biotechnology for Bioenergy Production

Learning outcomes

At the end of the lectures, the student acquires current and detailed knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying that part of plant physiology mainly subjected to biotechnological applications. Through the study of the most recent biotechnological applications in the plant field, the course provides the knowledge to develop a critical and in-depth view of the possibilities offered by the new technologies for the improvement of plant productivity.

Course contents

The course introduces the principles and applications of modern plant biotechnology, with particular emphasis on improving plant productivity, photosynthetic efficiency, and the sustainable production of biomass.

The course traces the evolution of plant breeding strategies, from crop domestication to modern plant biotechnology, covering the development of in vitro culture, plant genomics, and the major technologies for plant genetic improvement. These include the design of gene expression constructs, Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, plastid transformation, mutagenesis, TILLING, and New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), with particular reference to their applications in crop improvement and their regulatory framework within the European Union.

The biological processes underlying plant productivity are then examined, with particular focus on photosynthesis, photorespiration, C3, C4 and CAM metabolism, the organization of nuclear and plastid genomes, plant model organisms, and the principles of functional genomics.

Finally, the course presents applications of metabolic engineering and plant synthetic biology aimed at improving photosynthetic efficiency and producing natural metabolites, recombinant proteins, and other biomolecules of industrial and pharmaceutical interest. The course is complemented by the discussion of case studies and recent scientific publications, with the aim of developing students' ability to critically evaluate the scientific literature.

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching materials used during the course, including lecture slides, selected scientific papers and supplementary resources, will be progressively made available through the University of Bologna's Virtuale e-learning platform.

Preparation for the final examination is based on the teaching materials provided on the platform and on the topics covered during the lectures. Non-attending students are encouraged to contact the instructor to discuss any additional reading that may be required.

Recommended textbooks

• Taiz L., Zeiger E., Møller I.M., Murphy A., Plant Physiology and Development, Oxford University Press.
• Slater A., Scott N., Fowler M., Plant Biotechnology: The Genetic Manipulation of Plants, Oxford University Press.

The recommended textbooks provide useful background and further reading on the topics covered in the course; however, preparation for the examination is primarily based on the teaching materials and scientific literature made available through the Virtuale platform.

Throughout the course, students will also be provided with selected recent research articles from the international scientific literature to deepen their understanding of the topics covered and to develop their ability to critically evaluate scientific publications.

Teaching methods

The course, worth 6 CFU, is organized as lectures, all accompanied by the projection of images and diagrams, which are available on the University of Bologna’s Virtuale platform.

Subject to students’ approval, flipped classroom activities will also be introduced to make learning more active and engaging. Students will also be invited to participate in a dedicated seminar, followed by an open discussion to jointly explore specific scientific topics.

Questions and clarifications are always welcome, both during and at the end of the lectures, to encourage open and constructive dialogue.

Assessment methods

The purpose of the learning assessment is to evaluate achievement of the learning objectives. This will be conducted through an oral examination consisting of three questions, two of which will be chosen by the lecturer and one by the student.

Students may replace one of the three questions with a short oral presentation on a topic agreed with the lecturer, if they wish.

Students have the right to reject the proposed positive grade once (in accordance with the University Teaching Regulations, ART.16, paragraph 5).

For assessment purposes, limited, declared, and non-substantive use of artificial intelligence (AI) is permitted for support activities, such as summarization and text rephrasing. The substantive use of AI to complete any part of the assessment is not permitted.

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) 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.

Students recognized as “working students”: please consult the dedicated website (https://www.unibo.it/en/study/guide-to-choosing-your-programme/balancing-study-and-work) to apply for this status and to learn about the available measures.

Teaching tools

The course takes place in classrooms equipped with PC projection, and lectures are supported by PowerPoint presentations. The presentation files will be made available to enrolled students through the University of Bologna’s Virtuale platform.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Sparla