PPH-10806 Structure and Function of Plants

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

Dutch

Continuation courses:

CLB-10803 Reproduction of Plants; CLB-30306 Cell Biology and Advanced Imaging Technologies; EZO-22306 Concepts and Approaches in Developmental Biology; PPH-30306 Plant Cell and Tissue Culture; PPH-30806 Plant Plasticity and Adaptation and NEM-21306 Ecophysiology.

Contents:

In this course, the structure, development and physiology of plants is studied at the level of the cells, the tissues and the whole plant. The first focus is on the form and function relationships with respect to the main functions of the plant i.e. photosynthesis, the transport of e.g. water, ions and sugars and the uptake of water and nutrients from the soil. Next to general principles also the diversity in the plant kingdom gets attention, e.g. differences between monocots and dicots, plants with and without secondary growth, and plants with C3-, C4- or CAM-photosynthesis.
Subsequently, the basal principles of regulation of growth and development by plant hormones and light (photomorphogenesis) will be discussed.
Structural and physiological aspects of the regulation of e.g. seed and bud dormancy and root and shoot growth will be treated, as well as regenerative capacity of cells, tissues and organs to illustrate plant developmental flexibility.
Aims of the course are the creation of a good knowledge of the relationship between structure and function of the various parts of the plant body, including processes that regulate growth and development of plants and their interrelationships and getting experience in the methods used to investigate and analyse the structural and physiological phenomena involved.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- explain the relations between structure and function of various parts of the plant body;
- describe plant structures, growth and development by making and interpreting microscopical preparations of plant parts;
- recognize and describe the various types of differentiated cells and tissues of a plant - recognize patterns of tissue formation resulting from meristem activity;
- explain the basal mechanisms of the physiological processes, as well as basal ecophysiological adaptations of these processes;
- explain, recognize, present and discuss the (theoretical) backgrounds of the processes that regulate growth and development of plants, both from an anatomical/cell biological and a physiological point of view;
- translate the effects of environmental changes on plant growth and development (both regarding structural and physiological aspects) in plant cell biological and physiological processes;
- recognize and apply methods of investigation in cell biological, anatomical and physiological studies;
- design, carry out, interpret and present (in written and oral reports) experiments in the field of function, growth and development of higher plants, mostly from general prescriptions, extended with some individual set-ups.

Activities:

The course consists of:
- lectures;
- practicals. In the practical part physiological experiments will be performed and microscopical plant structure will be studied; this part also includes discussion sessions on the results of the practicals.

Examination:

- computer exam, containing 50 - 100 questions (80%);
- written report of one of the experiments (10%);
- workbook of morphological practicals (10%).
Minimum of each part is 5.0

Literature:

Raven, P.H.; Evert, R.F.; Eichhorn, S.E. ( 19982013). Biology of plants. 8th edition. New York, US: Freeman/Worth. 944p. ISBN 1572590416 978-1-4641-1351-2. A textbook, syllabi and a study guide will be used.