35484 - Biology of Plant Foods

Academic Year 2012/2013

  • Docente: Paola Minardi
  • Credits: 2
  • SSD: AGR/18
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Veterinary Medicine (cod. 8206)

Learning outcomes

The course provides the knowledge of the taxonomic, ecological and morpho-functional features of plants as a source of food for animals. It also provides the necessary expertise to recognize the morpho-anatomical, physiological and nutritional features of families and species which are the main plant food to animals.

Course contents

General Botany

Plant biology: morphological and structural characteristics of t he plant cell; the plant cell wall; vacuoles and plastids.

Plant hystology: meristematic (primary and secondary) and adult tissues (tegumental, parenchymatic and vascular tissues).

Plant anatomy: primary and secondary structure of the stem.

Plant metabolism: glycolysis, respiration, fermentations and photosynthesis.

Spermatophytes: main features, embryogenesis and seed germination.

Bacteria and fungi: main feature; ecological, economic and veterinary relevance.

Plant foods

Angiosperms: monocots and dicots main use as animal feed.

Anti-nutritional substances: the main anti-nutritional substances produced by the plant immune system, mycotoxins, pathogenesis related proteins; fitoanticipine and phytoalexins, protease inhibitors, mitochondrial inhibitors.

Genetic engineering technology to improve plant nutritional value: gene silencing and RNA interference

Readings/Bibliography

Text-books

VENTURELLI F. & VIRLI L. – Invito alla botanica. 1° Ed. Zanichelli, 1995, Bologna

PANCALDI et al. – Fondamenti di Botanica Generale. McGraw-Hill, 2011, Milano

Books suggested for specific investigation

RAVEN, EVERT & EICHHORN – Biologia delle piante. 6° Ed. Zanichelli, 2002, Bologna

CERUTI A. , CERUTI M. & VIGOLO G. – Botanica medica, farmaceutica e veterinaria con elementi di botanica generale. 1° Ed. Zanichelli, 1993, Bologna

Other references are indicated by the teacher during the course and are available for the students.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Test with multiple choice

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations

Supplementary notes and teaching materials are available for students

Office hours

See the website of Paola Minardi