Learning objectives
Provide students with a suitable knowledge in General, Molecular and Evolutionary Botany
Prerequisites
- - -
Course unit content
INTRODUCTION The concept of plant organism. Binomial nomenclature. Origin, diversity and classification of plants. Outline of major biological molecules: lipids, sugars, amino acids, proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids. Organic acids. ATP and NAD (P). OUTLINES OF ORGANISM ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION Unicellular and multicellular organisms. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Autotrophic and heterotrophic. Aerobic and anaerobic. The prokaryotes: Archaea, Bacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinomycetes. Eukaryotes: Algae, Fungi (including Lichens), Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Angiosperms. THE EUKARYOTIC PLANT CELL The main features of the plant cell. The nucleus and the cytoplasm. The plasma membrane. The endomembrane systems. Tonoplast and vacuole. The osmotic phenomena and the turgor. Plastids. Outlines of mitochondria, peroxisomes and other organelles. The cytoskeleton. Cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis. The cell wall and plasmodesmata. HISTOLOGY AND ANATOMY OF HIGHER PLANTS Meristematic tissues and adult tissues. Anatomy of root and stem in Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons. Theory of the stele. The dorsal-ventral leaf, isolateral and needle-like. Stomata and stomatal movements. ONTOGENETIC PLANT CYCLE Overview on reproduction of Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Angiosperms: the flower and the sexual reproduction. Microsporogenesis, macrosporogenesis, gametogenesis, fertilization. Embryogenesis. The seed: structure and chemical composition. Germination and seedling formation. The fruit.
Full programme
- - -
Bibliography
L. Sanità di Toppi. DISPENSA DI BOTANICA GENERALE. Ed. S. Croce, Parma, 2012/3.
D. Gerlach, J. Lieder. ATLANTE DI ANATOMIA VEGETALE. Franco Muzzio, Padova, 1986.
-----------------
The Note (Dispensa) written by the teacher and the Atlas should be integrated by:
the chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 of:
Campbell-Reece. BIOLOGIA, Pearson, 2009 (also available in English)
Teaching methods
Classes integrated by practical examples.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written examination, with possible oral/practical integration.
Other information
- - -
