3534.15 - Biology III: Plant Form and Function

3534.15

Biology III: Plant Form and Function

7.5

Biology I & II

To provide the students with basic knowledge of vascular plant structure morphology and anatomy. To provide the students with basic knowledge of the main principles of plant physiology.

Root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit, seed. The plant cell. Germination, differentation, seasonal growth cycles, life forms, growth and meristems. Pollination and dispersal of fruits and seeds. Plant hormones. Nutrition, essential elements, growing plants in solution culture, nutrient deficiencies. Absorption and movement of water and solutes in the plant body. Transpiration. Assimilate transport. External factors. Circadian rhythms, photoperiodism, plant movements and vernalisation. Plants and people. Stress physiology. Photosynthesis, light and life. Respiration.

Lectures, laboratory exercises, exercise sessions, presentations and discussions, plant propagation, excursion, team work.The laboratory lessons are mandatory, and reports from the laboratory exercises have to be approved prior to the final exam. Individual work describing the anatomy, morphology and physiology of a plant of own choise. Each student presents one scientific paper.

At the end of the course the student should be able to: • Analyse and explain the morphology, anatomy and physiology of an angiosperm plant and be well aquainted with common terms • Describe different plant cells and be able to explain the microscopic and macroscopic structure of cell tissues and organ systems. • Describe the physiology of a plant regarding the topics covered by the course, with special emphasis on: o Growth, tissue systems, differentation and propagation o Effects of the six major groups of plant hormones o Effects of extern factors: light, daylength, temperature, water, nutrients, soil and nutrient medium, stress • Describe the world’s principal crop plants today • Describe respiration and photosynthesis • Master and plan common laboratory practises including microscopy • Estimate the relationship between form and function and the adaptility to the external environment

Four - hour written examination. No auxiliary material. Delivery of written exercise report previously to the examination, which will count 25% of the final course grade Reexamination is identical to the examination.

External

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Sigga Rasmussen