Provide a solid and updated knowledge on the molecular and physiological processes underlying the functioning of cells and different organs of plant organisms as well as on the fundamental processes that regulate the life of plants.
Provide the tools to develop the ability of critical analysis of experimental results and the ability to solve problems through laboratory didactics.
The study of plant physiology assumes a fundamental role in different disciplinary sectors and application fields as for example, the genetic improvement of plants, plant biotechnologies, pharmacology, plant pathology, plant ecology.
Provide the tools to develop the ability of critical analysis of experimental results and the ability to solve problems through laboratory didactics.
The study of plant physiology assumes a fundamental role in different disciplinary sectors and application fields as for example, the genetic improvement of plants, plant biotechnologies, pharmacology, plant pathology, plant ecology.
teacher profile teaching materials
To increase knowledge concerning fundamental processes underlying plant life as well as provide students with basic expertise in experimental plant physiology. Plant Physiology has a primary importance in many scientific areas and applicative contexts such as plant molecular biology, plant breeding, pharmacology, plant pathology, agro-industrial biotechnology.
Program of the lessons
-Growth and Development.
-Auxin: Generalities and Signal Transduction (polar transport, extension growth, phototropism, gravitropism).
-Gibberellines, Cytokinines, Ethylene, Abscissic Acid, Brassinosteroids: Generalities and Signal Transduction.
-Photomorphogenesis, Photereceptors and Responses to variations of the spectral quality of the light.
-Photoperodism.
-Control of Flowering.
Laboratory exercises:
1) Determination of water potential in glycophytes and halophytes, weight gain / loss method;
2) Photosynthesis: preparation of thylakoid vesicles and their use in the Hill reaction;
3) Surface tension and capillarity: physical mathematical derivation of the law ofJurin and realization of a variable radius capillary that highlights the characteristics of a branch of equilateral hyperbole.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, Lincoln Taiz and Eduardo Zeiger, editor SINAUER ASSOCIATES (Sixth EDITION; in english language)
FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE, Lincoln Taiz e Eduardo Zeiger, editore PICCIN, QUARTA EDIZIONE ITALIANA (dalla Quinta edizione in lingua Inglese)
Programme
Learning tasksTo increase knowledge concerning fundamental processes underlying plant life as well as provide students with basic expertise in experimental plant physiology. Plant Physiology has a primary importance in many scientific areas and applicative contexts such as plant molecular biology, plant breeding, pharmacology, plant pathology, agro-industrial biotechnology.
Program of the lessons
-Growth and Development.
-Auxin: Generalities and Signal Transduction (polar transport, extension growth, phototropism, gravitropism).
-Gibberellines, Cytokinines, Ethylene, Abscissic Acid, Brassinosteroids: Generalities and Signal Transduction.
-Photomorphogenesis, Photereceptors and Responses to variations of the spectral quality of the light.
-Photoperodism.
-Control of Flowering.
Laboratory exercises:
1) Determination of water potential in glycophytes and halophytes, weight gain / loss method;
2) Photosynthesis: preparation of thylakoid vesicles and their use in the Hill reaction;
3) Surface tension and capillarity: physical mathematical derivation of the law ofJurin and realization of a variable radius capillary that highlights the characteristics of a branch of equilateral hyperbole.
Core Documentation
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, Lincoln Taiz and Eduardo Zeiger, editor SINAUER ASSOCIATES (Sixth EDITION; in english language)
FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE, Lincoln Taiz e Eduardo Zeiger, editore PICCIN, QUARTA EDIZIONE ITALIANA (dalla Quinta edizione in lingua Inglese)
Type of delivery of the course
The course will take place through classroom lectures and laboratory exercises. Lectures are organized by means of power point presentations that are made available to the student. The exercises are organized by groups (around 25 students each) and then replicated four times so that each student (around 100 in total) can beneficiate a single experimental position (or in pairs) and can actively participate to experimentation. Before each shift, students are adequately informed and trained about the risks inherent in the exercise and provided with safety data sheets for the materials used and individual protection devices. Students complete and countersign a declaration of training / information / training regarding the aforementioned risks. Each exercise is accompanied by a training course carried out by means of a printout which is provided to each student and which contains questions of verification of comprehension, ability to calculate, ability to apply to problems associated with the exercise.Attendance
In presence (remote teaching for the categories of students authorized by the University)Type of evaluation
The oral exam will consist of the discussion of topics related to the program. Laboratory exercises may also be the subject of the interview. The ability to describe the theoretical aspects, the level of detail, the clarity of exposure, the ability to apply the knowledge acquired to complex problems, the language property will be evaluated. teacher profile teaching materials
To increase knowledge concerning fundamental processes underlying plant life as well as provide students with basic expertise in experimental plant physiology. Plant Physiology has a primary importance in many scientific areas and applicative contexts such as plant molecular biology, plant breeding, pharmacology, plant pathology, agro-industrial biotechnology.
Course program
The plant cell. The cell wall: structure, biogenesis and role in cell expansion. Water and plant cells: structure and properties of water, water transport processes (diffusion, mass flow, osmosis), water potential. The osmotic behavior of plant cells. Aquaporins. The water balance of the plant and the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum: the absorption of water in the root, xylem transport (Tension-Cohesion theory), transpiration. Stomata: morphology, opening and closing mechanisms, regulation by environmental signals. The transport of solutes in solution and across a membrane barrier: the electrochemical potential and the Nernst equation. The transport of solutes across biological membranes: transport proteins, active and passive transport, membrane potential in plant cells. Photosynthesis: light reactions. General concepts, organization of the photosynthetic apparatus, antenna systems, reaction centers, excitation of photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic electron transport chain, Z-scheme, redox potential, water photolysis, plastoquinone and cytochrome complex. Proton gradient formation and ATP synthesis in the chloroplast. Regulation of the photosynthetic process under excessive light: photoinhibition and photoprotection of PSII. Photosynthesis: carbon reactions. Calvin-Benson cycle, photorespiration, mechanisms of CO2 concentration in C4 and CAM plants, starch and sucrose biosynthesis, carbohydrate allocation and accumulation. Translocation in the phloem: pressure flow model, loading and unloading. Respiration: glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, citric acid cycle, mitochondrial electron transport, cyanide-resistant respiration, alternative oxidase. Lipid metabolism. Nutrient assimilation: nitrogen and sulphur cycle, nitrate and ammonium assimilation, biological nitrogen fixation, sulphur and phosphate assimilation, nutritional deficiencies.
The professor receives every day by appointment via e-mail: alessandra.cona@uniroma3.it
Programme
Learning tasksTo increase knowledge concerning fundamental processes underlying plant life as well as provide students with basic expertise in experimental plant physiology. Plant Physiology has a primary importance in many scientific areas and applicative contexts such as plant molecular biology, plant breeding, pharmacology, plant pathology, agro-industrial biotechnology.
Course program
The plant cell. The cell wall: structure, biogenesis and role in cell expansion. Water and plant cells: structure and properties of water, water transport processes (diffusion, mass flow, osmosis), water potential. The osmotic behavior of plant cells. Aquaporins. The water balance of the plant and the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum: the absorption of water in the root, xylem transport (Tension-Cohesion theory), transpiration. Stomata: morphology, opening and closing mechanisms, regulation by environmental signals. The transport of solutes in solution and across a membrane barrier: the electrochemical potential and the Nernst equation. The transport of solutes across biological membranes: transport proteins, active and passive transport, membrane potential in plant cells. Photosynthesis: light reactions. General concepts, organization of the photosynthetic apparatus, antenna systems, reaction centers, excitation of photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic electron transport chain, Z-scheme, redox potential, water photolysis, plastoquinone and cytochrome complex. Proton gradient formation and ATP synthesis in the chloroplast. Regulation of the photosynthetic process under excessive light: photoinhibition and photoprotection of PSII. Photosynthesis: carbon reactions. Calvin-Benson cycle, photorespiration, mechanisms of CO2 concentration in C4 and CAM plants, starch and sucrose biosynthesis, carbohydrate allocation and accumulation. Translocation in the phloem: pressure flow model, loading and unloading. Respiration: glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, citric acid cycle, mitochondrial electron transport, cyanide-resistant respiration, alternative oxidase. Lipid metabolism. Nutrient assimilation: nitrogen and sulphur cycle, nitrate and ammonium assimilation, biological nitrogen fixation, sulphur and phosphate assimilation, nutritional deficiencies.
The professor receives every day by appointment via e-mail: alessandra.cona@uniroma3.it
Core Documentation
Plant Physiology (in English language); Taiz and Zeiger; Sinuaver associates (fifth edition)Attendance
In presence (remote teaching for the categories of students authorized by the University)Type of evaluation
The oral exam will consist of the discussion of topics related to the program. Laboratory exercises may also be the subject of the interview. The ability to describe the theoretical aspects, the level of detail, the clarity of exposure, the ability to apply the knowledge acquired to complex problems, the language property will be evaluated.