46093 - Advanced Vegetal Biology

Learning outcomes

To give the novelty at molecular level about  the most interesting topics in plant biology

Course contents

Flowering. Induction of flowering. Factors of flowering. Genes involved in flowering. Flower development: morphological, genetic and molecular analysis. The ABC model. Omeotic genes. Gametogenesis. Mutations that have an influence on gametophyte. Pollen germination. Cytoskeleton and molucular motors. How plants recognize self pollen, the self-incompatibility. Mechanisms of autoincompatibility: gametophytic (Rosaceae and Papaveraceae) and sporophytic (Brassicaceae) self-incompatibility. Fertilization. Seed development. Embryo development. Endosperm formation. Storage substances accumulation during seed development. Storage proteins: prolammin, albumin and globulin.

Maturation and deidration of the embryo. Seed germination.

Programmed cell death. The different kind of cell death and comparative analysis with animal systems. PCD in plant lyfe cicle. Senescence. SAG: genes of senescence. Pigments metabolism during senescence. Proteins metabolism during senescence. Influence of senescence on photosynthesis. Influence of senescence on oxidative metabolisms. Catabolism of nucleic acids during senescence. Factors that regulate senescence. Examples of PCD during differentiation and development. The model of tobacco flower. Examples of PCD as adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress. HR response. PCD in self-incompatibility

Readings/Bibliography

Buchanan et al., Biochimica e biologia molecolare delle piante, Zanichelli

Teaching methods

Lectures in power points

Assessment methods

Oral. Check of acquired knowledge and a brief presentation (20 minutes) on the more recent published papers on the topics treated.

Teaching tools

PC and projector to be used for power point presentation

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Del Duca