Plant Physiology

Objectives

1. Intellectual objectives: Knowing the complexity and diversity of physiological processes between the plant and the environment; at different levels of plant organization and associated with the temporal dimension (development, reproduction, and response to environmental changes). Understand and critically evaluate published texts. Recognize and explain the ethical and legal aspects linked with the research.

2. Experimental objectives: Apply different basic techniques in the laboratory and field, including the principles underlying its use. Work safely, responsibly and legally, respecting ethical aspects. Sign up, organize and analyse obtained data. Apply the skills of critical analysis to evaluate data on underlying assumptions and theories.

3. Communication objectives: Process and prepare data for presentation using appropriate methods. Communicate verbally and in writing clearly and concisely about a topic. Quote and cite the work of others properly.

Program

Theory. Introduction. Basic biophysical concepts. Water and plants. Water balance. Mineral nutrition. Solute transport. Physiology of metabolism: The assimilation of mineral nutrients. The photosynthetic process in plants. Use and transport of assimilates. Physiology of development: The cell walls. Growth and differentiation. Movements in plants. Chemical regulators of development. The photomorphogenesis. Flowering, fruiting and germination. Dormancy in seeds and buds. Practice. Experimental design, use of equipment and execution of basic techniques in: water balance and acclimation, mineral nutrition and development, photosynthesis and development, regulatory development and differentiation of tissues and germination, flowering and vernalization, forcing cuttings, construction and maintenance of a seed bank and seed dormancy. Determination of the characteristics of germination (IRST) and construction of germination and growth curves. Data analysis.

Teaching Methodologies

Theoretical concepts use: a) teacher-centered teaching methods; expository interspersed with demonstrative actions in the form of short animations and small demonstration projects at classroom, and b) student-centered teaching methods (questions, problems resolution and oriented discussion). The practice uses a) student-centered teaching methods (computer-assisted thematic research) and b) interactive methods associated with methods of experimental basis (work group with experimental basis of field and laboratory aimed to solve practical problems using the scientific method, computer applications for data analysis, throughout discussion sessions about the results, and oral and written presentations).

Bibliography

Livros recomendados / Recommended books:

TAIZ & ZEIGER (2010). Plant Physiology. 5th edition, Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers.

Hiperligação: http://5e.plantphys.net/

UNO G., R. STOREY & R. MOORE (2001). Principles of Botany. McGraw Hill. Ed

Hiperligação www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/botany/uno/

Bibliografia complementar / Additional bibliography:

HOPKINS W. & N. HÜNER (2003). Introduction to plant physiology. 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons Ed.

EPSTEIN, E.& A. BLOOM (2005). Mineral Nutrition of Plants: Principles and Perspectives. 2nd ed., Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers.

BLANKENSHIP, R. E (2002). Molecular Mechanisms of Photosynthesis. Blackwell Publishing.

SRIVASTAVA L. (2002). Plant Growth and Development: Hormones and Environment. Elsevier Science, Academic Press.

LARCHER W. (2003). Physiological Plant Ecology. 4th ed. Springer.