Learning objectives
To provide students with the basics in botomy and plant physiology which will be useful for understanding the main biodeteriogenic organisms. <br />
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Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of biology and chemistry.
Course unit content
INTRODUCTION <br />
What are plants? The main biological molecules: lipids, sugars, amino acids, proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids. Organic acids. ATP e NAD(P). <br />
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CLASSIFICATION AND ECOLOGY OF BIODETERIOGENIC ORGANISMS <br />
Unicellular and pluricellular organisms. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Autotrophs and heterotrophs. Aerobes and anaerobes. Saprotrophs and symbiotics. Biological agents which cause biodeterioration of the pieces of art: Bacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Algae, Fungus, Lichens, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperm, and Angiosperm. <br />
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THE VEGETABLE EUKARYOTE CELL <br />
The main characteristics of the vegetable cell. The nucleus and the cytosol. The plasma membrane. The endomembrane systems. Tonoplast, vacuole and vacuole fluid. Brief introduction to osmotic phenomena. Turgor. Plastids. Brief introduction to mitochondria, peroxisomes and other organelles. The cytoskeleton. Cellular cycle, mitosis and meiosis. The cellular wall. <br />
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TISSUE AND ANATOMY OF SUPERIOR PLANTS <br />
The tissue and organs of superior plants. Anatomy of the roots, the stem and the leaves in Gymnosperm, Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons. The seed: structure and chemical composition. Germination and plant formation. The flower and sexual reproduction. Microsporogenesis, macrosporogenesis, fertilisation. Embryogensis. The fruit. <br />
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CHLOROPLASTS AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS <br />
Structure and function of the chloroplast. The radiant energy and photosynthetic pigments. The “dark” phase of photosynthesis: the Calvin-Benson cycle. Starch, cellulose and sucrose. Brief introduction to C4 and CAM metabolisms. Photosynthesis in bacteria, cyanobacteria and algae. <br />
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Bibliography
• W.K. Purves, D. Sadava, ecc. Biologia: part 1, La cellula. Zanichelli, Bologna, 2005. <br />
• L. Sanità di Toppi. Dispensa di Biologia Vegetale. S. Croce, Parma, 2005. <br />
• D. Gerlach, J. Lieder. Atlante di Anatomia Vegetale. Franco Muzzio, 1986. <br />
Teaching methods
Classroom lectures and outdoor lectures. <br />
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