Physiological Basis of Plant Production

Code:

CAGR1003

Acronym:

CAGR1003

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Agrarian Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Agricultural Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
A:A	1	PE_Agronomia	1	-	6	48	162
L:EA	21	The study plan from 2019	1	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The general objective of this Course Unit (CU) is to provide knowledge about the physiological responses that determine the development, resilience and yield of crops. In particular, the aim is to provide students with skills to:

- Understand the morphological and physiological mechanisms underlying the growth, development and crop yield.

- Understand the relevance of hormones and metabolites in plant development.

- Apply the knowledge acquired in understanding the response of plants to adverse conditions, in order to establish cultural practices adjusted to each crop.

- Understand the basis of an experimental design when installing a field test.

Learning outcomes and competences

This CU will allow students to acquire solid knowledge about the photosynthetic process, including the differences between photosynthetic metabolism in C3, C4 and CAM plants, the dry matter partitioning between sources and sinks, the process of cellular respiration, the relevance of hormones and specialized metabolites in the regulation of development and, finally, the physiology of stress in plants.

Working method

Presencial

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

n/a

Program

Theoretical Classes

1. Introduction to Plant Physiology and its impact on crop yield.
2. Interception of solar radiation by the canopy. Physiology of leaf development.
3. Conversion of solar energy into photoassimilates: photosynthesis and photorespiration.
4. Translocation of solutes (water, nutrients and photoassimilates). Water loss (transpiration).
5. Dry matter partitioning and source-sink relationship.
6. Cellular respiration and its application in agriculture.
7. Relevance of plant hormones and specialized metabolites for plant development.
8. Stress physiology (response to biotic and abiotic factors).


Pratical Classes

Study on the effect of plant density on the growth and development of three crops: wheat, ryegrass, and oats. Install a greenhouse test (with three replicates) where the aim is to evaluate the performance of plants by determining different morphological and physiological parameters during the crop production cycle. Students will participate in the trial preparation from sowing to harvest. They will determine the impact of the treatment on plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, photosynthetic rate, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, biomass production and crop yield, among others.

Mandatory literature

Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Møller, I. M., & Murphy, A. ; Fundamentals of Plant Physiology, Oxford University Press, 2018. ISBN: 9781605357904

Complementary Bibliography

Sadras, V. O., & Calderini, D. F. (Eds.). ; Crop physiology: Case histories for major crops (3rd ed.). , Academic Press., 2021. ISBN: 978-0-12-819194-1

Comments from the literature

Sadras, V. O., & Calderini, D. F. (Eds.). (2021). Crop physiology: Case histories for major crops (3rd ed.). Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-819194-1.

 

Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Møller, I. M., & Murphy, A. (2018). Fundamentals of Plant Physiology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781605357904.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes: presentation of topics using multimedia support.

Practical Laboratory Classes: installation and monitoring of crops in a greenhouse trial. Use of equipment to determine several physiological parameters.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	75,00
Trabalho de campo	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	20,00
Estudo autónomo	100,00
Frequência das aulas	48,00
Total:	168,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must have a minimum grade of 9.5 in the theoretical component and 9.5 in the practical component.

They must attend 75% of theoretical and 75% of practical classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Classification (FC) = final exam * 0.75 + report * 0.25

For approval to C.U., the FC must be equal to or greater than 9.5 values and have a minimum classification of 9.5 values ​​in the final exam.

Students may replace the final exam component, splitting it into 2 tests (typically covering around half the subjects each). If one of the tests is marked with a grade lower than 8.5 val, the student is automatically proposed for the final exam. If this happens during the first test, the student will be able to take the Exam in the so-called 'Epoca Normal'. If it happens on the 2nd test, the student can only make the final exam in the 'Epoca de Recurso'.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Student that have the 'student-worker' status may be exempt from the laboratory practice component (report) by transferring this component of the assessment to the "Final Exam" component - as long as it is requested in writing by the end of the 2nd week of classes.

Classification improvement

'Mark Improvement' can only be made to the Final Exam component

Observations

Regente: Prof. Susana Carvalho

C.U. Jury:
Susana Carvalho
Tânia Fernandes
Miguel Santos