Learning objectives
The Plant Biology course is a unit in the Integrated Course of Animal Biology/Plant Biology. This unit provides knowledge of plant cytology, histology and anatomy. These concepts are necessary for the study of Pharmaceutical Botany and Pharmacognosy
Prerequisites
<br />
A foundation in General and Inorganic Chemistry, and Physics <br />
Course unit content
The study of plants <br />
- Plants have a very different approach to life with respect to animals. <br />
- Plants are indispensable for all other living organisms. Plants as synthesizers and sources of secondary metabolites. Plants for medicinal purposes. <br />
- The main divisions of the plant kingdom. <br />
- Evolutionary relationships between the principal groups of living organisms. <br />
The plant cell <br />
- The plastids of a single large family: <br />
Chloroplast: ultrastructure, chemical composition. <br />
Photosynthesis and the factors influencing it. <br />
Chromoplasts. <br />
Leucoplasts. <br />
The hypothesis of the symbiotic origin of plastids <br />
- The cell wall. <br />
Chemical changes to the cell wall <br />
The cell wall as the cell's exterior environment, and a signal transmitter <br />
Pharmaceutical importance of the cell wall <br />
- Vacuoles <br />
Functions of vacuoles <br />
The secondary metabolic products of plants <br />
Secondary metabolites as chemical messages to the outside world <br />
The pharmaceutical importance of secondary metabolic products <br />
- The growth and development of the plant cell. <br />
- Tissues <br />
Plant anatomy <br />
- Growth mechanism <br />
- The different growth areas of stem and root <br />
- Stem anatomy <br />
- Root anatomy <br />
- Leaf anatomy <br />
- Mineral elements and their function in plants <br />
- Plant hormones <br />
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Bibliography
<br />
P.H. RAVEN, RF. EVERT, S.E. EICHHORN: Biologia delle piante, Zanichelli, Bologna. <br />
A. BRUNI, M. NICOLETTI: Biologia Vegetale, for the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Ya Padre, L'Aquila, 1993. <br />
A. SPERANZA, G. L. CALZONI: Struttura delle piante in immagini, Zanichelli, Bologna. <br />
WILLIAM K. PURVES, DAVID SADAVA, GORDON H. ORIANS, H.CRAIG HELLER: La Biologia delle piante, Zanichelli, Bologna. <br />
L. TAIZ, E. ZEIGER: Fisiologia Vegetale, Edizione Piccin, Padua. <br />
MAARTEN J. CHRISPEELS, DAVID E. SADAVA: Biologia Vegetale Applicata, Edizioni Piccin, Padua. <br />
SENATORE F.: Biologia e Botanica Farmaceutica, Edizioni Piccin, Padua. <br />
Teaching methods
The examination is in the form of an oral discussion.
