Responses and Adaptations to Stress

Code:

BIOL4004

Acronym:

BIOL4004

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2021/2022 - 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	16	Plano de Estudos M:BFBP_2015_2016.	1	-	3	21	81

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The main objective of the course  is that the students acquire solid knowledge about the physiological and biochemical processes underlying the damage caused by abiotic, namely organic pollutants, and biotic stresses and on the responses of acclimatization and adaptation of plants to these stressful situations, as well as identify strategies to increase plant tolerance to different types of stress.

Upon conclusion of the course, the student should be able to:

- understand aspects of plant physiology, more directly involved in the interactions plant-environment

- recognize the influence of climate and soil in plants

- explain how environmental factors can be responsible for severe stress situations

- recognize the main plant responses and adaptations to different stress situations

- know the main physiological and biochemical mechanisms that protect the plants against abiotic and biotic stresses

- understand the importance of knowledge in the field of stress physiology for solving environmental problems in the current context of climate change

Learning outcomes and competences

In this curricular unit is highlighted how plants respond and interact with adverse environmental conditions to their growth and development. The program of curricular unit begins with the highlight the importance of environmental factors in the plant growth and development and how they can turn on stress factors and the implications that these adverse conditions may have on plant growth and productivity, in the sense that the student understands the importance of your study. In this way, students will study the impact of stresses on plant physiology as well as the physiological and developmental strategies of plants to these adverse situations.

The understanding of the plant responses mechanisms to organic pollutants, from their absorption to their detoxification, as well as the processes that allow an improved efficiency of such response, will allow students to acquire skills to recognize environmental phytoremediation strategies.

The syllabus incorporates the most update scientific knowledge on the subject, which integrates research area also developed by the academic staff, reflecting the experience and the pedagogical and scientific knowledge of the teachers responsible for the curricular unit. The syllabus contents give the student a set of knowledge and skills which in interconnection with other curricular units, provide a solid theoretical knowledge about the area of plant stress physiology as well as practical knowledge of techniques and methods suitable for its study.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Stress on plants: concept. Mechanisms of plant responses to changes in the environment: adaptation and acclimation. Abiotic environment and biological impact on plants. Imbalances in abiotic factors and primary and secondary effects on the plants. 
Physiological and biochemical disturbances caused by water deficit,  salinity, flooding, and soil compaction. Physiological and biochemical disturbances caused by extreme temperatures and excessive light. Ozone and ultraviolet light as stress factors.

Developmental and physiological mechanisms that protect plants against extreme environmental situations. The complexity of the plant responses to abiotic stresses and mechanisms of stress detection. Combination of stresses.

Plant exposure to stress and alteration of the cell redox homeostasis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress. Production of ROS in different organelles. Conditions that lead to their formation and consequences at the cellular level. ROS as signal molecules.
Antioxidant defense system: enzymatic and non-enzymatic component. Antioxidant network.

Xenobiotics, characterization, absorption and perception mechanisms. Detoxification mechanisms.

Biotic interactions and mechanisms of plant responses: pathogenesis (Pattern-triggered Immunity (PTI) and Effector-triggered Immunity (ETI), role of phytohormones in plant resistence, attack by herbivores, allelopathy.

Mandatory literature

M. A. Jenks & P. M. Hasegawa; Plant Abiotic Stress, Wiley Blackwell, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-1184-1217-6
Lincoln Taiz; Plant physiology and development. ISBN: 978-1-60535-255-8
Bob B. Buchanan; Biochemistry & molecular biology of plants. ISBN: 978-0-470-71421-8
Peter Schröder; Christopher D Collins; Organic xenobiotics and plants. From mode of action to ecophysiology, Springer Science + Business Media, 2011. ISBN: 978-90-481-9851-1

Comments from the literature

The recommended bibliography is available at the FCUP Central library (ed. FC1). Complementary elements of study will also be made available by the teachers of the curricular unit.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures are presented in slideshow using power point-like software. Student participation is encouraged through discussion. Laboratory classes "hands on", providing the acquisition of specific skills, in particular those resulting from the execution of laboratory activities.

Terms of attendance: Attendance of lectures non-compulsory. Practical classes with compulsory attendance.

Type of assessment: Continuous evaluation with final exam.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

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

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	3,00
Estudo autónomo	57,00
Frequência das aulas	21,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

A student gains attendance if:

1. Having been regularly enrolled, do not exceed the limit of absences corresponding to 25% of the planned classes.

2. By integrating a working group, make the oral presentation of a scientific article.

Calculation formula of final grade

Type of assessment: Continuous evaluation with final exam. Students will be assessed through a written exam (75%) and the presentation and discussion of an scientific article (25%). 

Minimum grade in the written exam: 6 points

Final grade = (exam grade*0,75)+(presentation grade *0,25)

Classification improvement

Students will be able to improve their written exam grade (75%).

Observations

Coordinator Professor - Fernanda Fidalgo