Complementary Plant Physiology

Code:

BIOL3014

Acronym:

BIOL3014

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	14	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The main objective of this Course is for the students to complement their knowledge about how plants work and how they respond to environmental stimuli. This optional course complements the knowledge gained at the Plant Physiology course, focusing on more peculiar aspects of plant physiology that are not addressed in the basic course. Since plants are complex organisms, this course explores aspects that make them unique, focusing especially on the biochemical and molecular processes involved in their metabolism, growth, development and interactions with the environment.

Learning outcomes and competences

The frequency of the course should allow students to have the competence and capacity to:

• Recognize the different types of plant movements: tropisms and nyctinastic movements.


• Understand how different types of photosynthesis represent advantages in different environments


• Explain how plants use products resulting from photosynthesis


• Know particular aspects about the respiration in plant physiology


• Understand how plants interact with biotic agents such as parasites, herbivores,  parasitic plants and alellopathy


• Understand how plants assimilate phosphorus, iron and other metals as well


• Understand how the assimilations of nitrogen and sulfur are processed and how these relate to the carbon metabolism


• Understand how symbiotic interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizae bring benefits to the assimilation of nutrients


• Understand how the knowledge in plant physiology can be applied on a biotechnological perspective, as well as the importance of some model plant species in the advance of this knowledge


• Recognize that oxidative stress is a consequence of plant exposure to adverse conditions to their growth and development and that the antioxidant system is an important defense mechanism


• 
  
  Understand the importance of the seed dormancy process and understand the changes that occur in a seed during its germination
  
  


• Know peculiar aspects of parasitic plantas and carnivorous plants


• Recognize the potential of plant biotechnology.

Working method

Presencial

Program

• Different types of plant movements: Tropisms and nyctinastic movements.


• Physiological and ecological considerations about photosynthesis. Allocation and distribution of photoassimilates within the plant.


• Particular aspects of respiration in plant physiology.


• Assimilation of Nitrogen and Sulfur and coordination of the assimilation of these nutrients with the Carbon metabolism.


• Assimilation of Phosphate, Iron and other metals.


• Symbiotic relationships and nutrient absorption (Rhizobium and mycorrhiza).


• Reference to the biotechnological applications of plant physiology in increasing plant productivity, as well as to some model plant species in plant physiology.


• Plant responses to attack by biotic agents: parasites, herbivores and competing plants and parasitic plants. 


• Oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses.


• Seed dormancy: meaning, factors and methods for breaking dormancy. Seed germination and mobilization of stored reserves.


• Parasitic and carnivorous plants: main morphological and physiological adaptations and strategies.


• In vitro plant cell cultures. Use of in vitro cell culture for micropropagation. Other applications of plant biotechnology.

Mandatory literature

Taiz Lincoln 340; Plant physiology and development. ISBN: 978-1-60535-255-8
Buchanan Bob B. 340; Biochemistry & molecular biology of plants. ISBN: 978-0-470-71421-8

Complementary Bibliography

Watson et al.; Recombinant DNA: genes and genomes, 2007. ISBN: 0-7167-2866-4
Robert N. Trigiano & D. Dennis J. Gray; Plant Development and Biotechnology, 2005. ISBN: 0-8493-1614-6

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

Theoretical classes of expositive-interrogative nature supported in projections.
Practical classes that provide the acquisition of specific skills, namely those that result from the execution of practical laboratory work.

The scheduling of practical classes, as well as the set of procedures for each laboratory work, are available to students on the course website.

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Botany > Phytopathology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Functional biology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Botany > Plant physiology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	92,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	8,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	120,00
Frequência das aulas	46,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	2,00
Total:	168,00

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 practical classes provided (https://sigarra.up.pt/up/LEGISLACAO_GERAL.ver_legislacao?p_nr=4025).

Practical classes of compulsory attendance.

Calculation formula of final grade

Students should choose a modality of knowledge assessment:
i) Final exam
OR
(ii) Frequencies

I. Final written exam (Theoretical component and Theoretical-Practical component)

- Theoretical examination (T), 20 val.

- Theoretical-practical exam (TP), 16 val.

- Presentation and discussion of a scientific paper, to be defined, carried out during practical classes (P), 4 val.
Final Note - [2T+(TP+P)]/3


II.Frequencies

- 2 Theoretical evaluations (FT1 and FT2), each 20 val.
- Theoretical-practical exam (TP), 16 val.

- Presentation and discussion of a scientific paper during the practical classes (P), 4 val.
 

- Final grade - [2(mean FT1+FT2)(TP+P)]/3

Minimum Notes: component T, 8 values
                         component TP, 6.5 values

The first frequency will be held in the middle of the semester. The second frequency will be held on the day of the normal period examination.

Approval to this subject is obtained with a final clasification equal or superior to 9.5 values.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Presentation and discussion of an assigned scientific paper (4 values).

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

If working students do not attend practical classes, they will have to take a complementary practical exame in order to demonstrate that they have the knowledge and skills required at the UC.

Classification improvement

To improve the final grade, the student needs to request a new exam, in accordance with the current legislation on the subject.

Evaluation Components:

Theoretical (T) (20 values) + Theoretical-practical (TP) (16 values);

Grade obtained with the presentation of scientific paper (P) (4 points).

FINAL CLASSIFICATION = [T+(TP+P)]/3

Observations

There are no precedents.
Professor Coordinator: Paula Melo