12818 - Vegetal Biology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will acquire the main knowledge on citology, histology, anatomy and physiology of the Higher Plants.

Course contents

- Introduction. The main functional and morphological characteristics of the living organisms (Autotrophs and Heterotrophs; Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes; Tallophytes and Cormophytes).

- Elementary knowledge of Biochemistry. The chemical components of the living organisms: water, inorganic substances, organic substances. Monomers, polymers, condensation, hydrolysis. The carbohydrates, the lipids, the proteins, the nucleic acids. The plant polysaccharides: starch, cellulose, pectin.

The cell. The prokaryotic cell: structure and function of its components. The eukaryotic plant cell: the wall (middle lamella, primary wall, secondary wall), the plasma membrane, the cytoplasm, the vacuole, the plastids (chloroplasts, leucoplasts, chromoplasts), the nucleus, the ribosomes, the mitochondria, the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, the cytoskeleton. Cell division through mitosis and meiosis.

- The Plant Tissues. Meristematic tissues and differentiated tissues. Integumental tissues, parenchyma tissues, mechanical tissues, the vascular tissues and types of vascular bundles, the secretory tissues.

- The Anatomy of the Cormophytes. The anatomy of the stem, root and leaf of the Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons.

- The reproduction of the "Seed Plants". The metagenetic cycle of Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. The seed and the fruit. The annual, biennial and perennial plants.

- Introductory Plant Physiology. Osmotic phenomena. Water potential. The water potential in the soil-plant-atmosphere system. Water uptake from the soil and water movements in the plant. The germination. The mineral nutrition. The C and N cycles. Photosynthesis (photosynthetic pigments, photosystems, the light phase, the dark phase or the Calvin cycle). Photorespiration. Plants C3, C4, CAM. The aerobic respiration, the anaerobic respiration, the fermentations. The plant hormones: auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethylene. The effects of light: photomorphogenesis, photoperiodism. The effects of temperature: vernalization.

Readings/Bibliography

- PANCALDI S., BALDISSEROTTO C., FERRONI L., PANTALEONI L., 2011 - Fondamenti di Botanica Generale - Teoria e Pratica. McGraw-Hill Education (Milano, Italy)

This is the reference textbook for the first part of the course (citology, histology, anatomy and reproduction of the Spermatophytes).

- SPERANZA A., CALZONI G. L. - Struttura delle Piante in Immagini (with CD-ROM). Zanichelli, Bologna, 2001

This is not a textbook, but only an useful iconographic support for the first part of the course.

- VENTURELLI F., VIRLI L., 1995 - Invito alla Botanica. Zanichelli, Bologna
This is the reference textbook for the second part of the course (plant physiology and ecology), lacking in Pancaldi et al (2011).

Teaching methods

Front lectures with multimedia tools (ppt presentations). Students are invited to actively participate in the lectures through clarifying questions as well as through questions concerning their own experience and personal interests on the topics discussed

 

 

 

Assessment methods

The assessment of the knowledge acquired is achieved through an oral examination, at fixed date, that are published well in advance on AlmaEsami web site. The final examination will verify the preparation of the student on all parts of the program. The achievement of an organic vision of the issues addressed and their critical use, demonstrating ownership of the matter, will be assessed with marks of excellence. Mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the matter, will lead to discrete assessments; minimal knowledge will lead to votes that will not exceed the sufficiency. Training gaps, inappropriate language, will lead to failed assessments.

Teaching tools

ppt presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Speranza

See the website of Carla Lambertini