65821 - Molecular Plant Biology

Academic Year 2012/2013

  • Moduli: Paolo Bernardo Trost (Modulo 1) Francesca Sparla (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 1); In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Molecular and cellular biology (cod. 8021)

Course contents

Arabidopsis thaliana as a model species in plant biology. Nuclear and plastidic genomes. Endosymbiotic gene transfer. Import and sorting of plastidial proteins.

Oxidative stress and redox signalling. Production and detoxification of ROS in plants. Photosynthesis and photoinhibition. Mitochondria. NADPH-oxidase. Thiol-based redox signalling.

Abiotic stress. Water stress: osmotic adjustment, abscissic acid.

Biotic stress. Major phytopathogens. Constitutive defense. Basal immunity and vertical resistance (guard hypothesis and gene for gene model). Oxidativeburst, NO and hypersensitive response.Systemic responses.

Readings/Bibliography

Taiz, Zeiger, Plant physiology, 5th edition, Sinauer Associates

Buchanan, Gruissem, Jones, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants, The American Society of Plant Physiology, Rockville, Maryland

Update reviews indicated by the teacher

Teaching methods


Assessment methods


Office hours

See the website of Paolo Bernardo Trost

See the website of Francesca Sparla