65928 - Plant Biology

Academic Year 2017/2018

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Ravenna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Environmental Sciences (cod. 8011)

Learning outcomes

After attending the course the student will have basic knowledge on anatomy, morphology, growth and reproduction of the different plant classes, as well as on their evolution and relationship with the environment.

Course contents

Peculiar characteristics of plant organisms. Differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Anatomy of the plant cell with description of its specific organelles: cell wall, plastids, vacuole. Base concepts of evolution and classification. Morphological characteristics and life cycles of algae, briophytes, pteridophytes and spermatophytes with outline of systematics and of their ecological relevance. Plant tissue organization and description of the anatomy of stem, leaf, root, flower with hints on the characters useful for plant classification. Basic concepts of main physiological processes (photosynthesis, water transport, mineral nutrition) and of adaptations to environmental stresses in regard to their specific biome.

Readings/Bibliography

Botanica generale e diversità vegetale. Pasqua, Abbate, Forni. Ed. Piccin

Solomon, Martin, Martin, Berg. Struttura e processi vitali nelle piante. Ed. EDISES

Solomon, Martin, Martin, Berg. Evoluzione e biodiversità. Ed. EDISES

Teaching methods

The course is composed of 5 CFU with frontal lectures and 1 CFU of practical teaching. The latter is performed in a microscopy lab with 15 optical microscopes plus 1 microscope, connected to 15 videos through a videocam, with which the teacher can show and explain one single section to all the class.  The practical has the aim to teach the use of the microscope and how to perform plant tissue sections. Through the microscope observations of plant tissue specimens it will be possible to observe cellular organelles and the diverse plant cell types; photosynthetic microorganisms and small plants such as mosses and lichens will also be observed. The practical CFU comprises a visit to a Botanical Garden for the observation of various plant taxa also living in greenhouses reproducing their typical environment. 

Assessment methods

The final examination aims to the following objectives evaluation:

  • Knowledge of the role of the different plant groups in the environment relatively to: carbon cycle, resourses utilization (light, water, CO2, inorganic nutrients), interactions with microorganisms and adaptive responses.
  • Knowledge of the anatomy, growth and reproduction aspects of the main taxa and of peculiar aspects related to their identification.

The vote will be assigned following the delivery of a short report on a plant species, choosen by the student, and the positive result of a written test. The test contains open questions one of which is relative to the identification of an organ structure and to its description. The exam can be passed also by students not attending the practical part. The positive score is comprised between 18 and 30.

Examples of the written test and of the plant report are available in the Teaching material site of the teacher.

Teaching tools

Frontal lectures are supported by PowerPoint slides available through the teaching material site of UNIBO, attainable through username and password given by the University to the enrolled students. The teacher will utilize also live material or replicas.

For microscope observations freshly collected plant materials will be used. The participation to the practicals is highly recommended but not mandatory. Picture of the sections observed will be delivered through the teaching material.

Office hours

See the website of Rossella Pistocchi