Wood Biotechnology

Code:

BIOL4005

Acronym:

BIOL4005

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Functional Biology and Biotechnology of Plants

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:BFBP	7	Plano de Estudos M:BFBP_2015_2016	1	-	3	21	81

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Provide students with an understanding of tree growth; the connection between the structure of wood and the specific properties of wood products; a deep knowledge of the methods for wood identification; understanding of the importance of wood as natural resource and industrial material and how wood fits into different societies.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

Describe tree growth and the macroscopic and microscopic anatomy of wood;

Give a general description of the biosynthesis of wood polymers and explain how they relate to the physical and mechanical properties and use of major wood products;

Identify the characteristics of wood which make species different from one another and can be used to identify wood species;

Discuss different biotechnical processes for the pulp and paper industry;

Describe different types of microorganisms and their modes of interaction with wood;

Understand current and potential applications of biotechnology in wood processed products.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

.

Program

Gross features of trees. Wood – a renewable resource; types of cells, function and influence on physical properties. Annual rings, heartwood and sapwood. Softwoods and hardwoods. Anatomical bases for differences in properties due to species, early wood/late wood, bole/branch, juvenile/mature wood.

Features of wood used to identify species. Identification using macroscopic and microscopic features. Major wood species.

The distribution of chemical components in the woody cell wall. Biosynthesis, chemical structure and properties of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in hardwoods and softwoods. Cellulose products and chemicals from wood. Wood adhesive technology.

Enzymes degrading wood components. Hydrolysis of cellulose by acid and enzymes.

Mechanical and chemical pulping. Sulfate (Kraft pulping) and sulfite processes, bioethanol production.

Study of the problem of pine wilt disease (PMD), caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a serious threat to the coniferous forests of Portugal and the rest of the world.

Strategies for biosynthesis and genetic modification. Economic and environmental benefits of biotechnological innovation in wood processing.

Mandatory literature

Larson, P. ; The vascular cambium - Development and structure, Springer-Verlag, Berlin., 1994
Siau, J. ; Wood: influence of moisture on physical properties, Department of wood science and forest products, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1995
Zobel, B. & van Buijtenen, J. ; Wood Variation - Its Causes and Control, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1989
Rennenberg, H., Eschrich, W. & Ziegler, H. (Eds.) ; Trees – Contributions to modern tree physiology. , Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 1997

Complementary Bibliography

Mathieu, Y., Gelhaye, E., Dumarçay, S., Gérardin, P., Harvengt, L., Buée, M.,; Selection and validation of enzymatic activities as functional markers in wood biotechnology and fungal ecology., Journal of Microbiological Methods 92 157–163, 2013
Mai, C., Kües, U., Militz, H. ; Biotechnology in the wood industry, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 63:477–494., 2004

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course will use a wide combination of learning methods, including lecturing by the professor or the students, class analysis and discussion of the selected subjects presented by the students and hands-on work with samples and equipment.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	60,00
Frequência das aulas	12,00
Trabalho laboratorial	9,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Enrollment in University courses requires regular class attendance as well as careful preparation. Therefore, students are expected to attend all their scheduled classes.

However, absences are allowed to a maximum of 25% of their possible classes. That is, if students attend less than 75% of their possible classes they are excluded from final assessment.

Calculation formula of final grade

Oral presentation of selected subjects, 30%;
Final written examination, 70%.

Examinations or Special Assignments

n.a.

Internship work/project

n.a.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

n.a.

Classification improvement

Students who wish to have a second attempt to improve the overall course grade can have a new written examination. The grading of the oral presentation is maintained.

Observations

.