Learning outcomes of the curricular unit (knowledge, skills and competences to be developed by the students)
Acquire knowledge and develop skills and competences at the level of: factors that condition plant growth and development, water movement in the soil-plant-atmosphere system, plant behavior under stress conditions, mineral nutrition, carbon metabolism, hormonal regulation and plant productivity.
Syllabus
1. Water relations: concept of water potential. Water movement in the soil-plant-atmosphere system. Water stress.
2. Metabolism of Carbon C3, C4 and CAM. Photosynthetic rate in function: light, CO2, temperature, radiation.
3. Hormonal Regulation: plant hormones, their mode of action and implications for plant growth and development. Photoperiodic reactions in plants.
4. Physiology and Genetics of Development: vegetative development and its genetic and environmental constraints.
5. Mineral Nutrition: Transport of mineral elements (macro and microelements) in the plant. Phytoremediation.
6. Plant defense mechanisms
7. Plant Productivity: Rates and indices of growth. Methodologies for quantifying plant biomass and leaf area. Culture growth rate. Biomass distribution. Determining growth factors.
Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the curricular unit's learning objectives
Through theoretical-practical teaching, it is intended that students acquire a set of knowledge and skills on the physical (water, light, nutrients) and biotic factors that influence and condition the growth and development of plants.
Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)
The curricular unit is organized in theoretical-practical classes, taught through lectures.
Students can opt for a continuous evaluation (CE), or a single final assessment (FA).
The CE consists of 2 tests, each with about half of the Curricular Unit contents. Each test has a weight of 30% of the final grade. At CE, a team work followed by a public presentation will be done (40%).
If the student opts for the FA; the evaluation will be carried out through a written exam with all the subject.
Students cannot have a grade lower than 8,0 in any of the test, as well as in the work and will be approved if the final grade is greater than or equal to 10 values.
Demonstration of the coherence between the teaching methodologies and the learning outcomes
Through the teaching provided in theoretical-practical classes, tutorial teaching, carrying out the work, students acquire and develop a set of knowledge and skills that allow them to achieve the learning objectives set out for the curricular unit.
Lectures are essential to support the understanding of concepts. Classes will be dynamic where students are expected to be involved and discuss topics. The work that will be carried out as part of the continuous evaluation will allow students to explore a topic in the field of plant physiology, developing research skills and written and oral exposure.
Observations
Azcón-Bieto, J. & Talón, M. (2000). Fundamentos de Fisiología Vegetal. McGraw-Hill/Interamericana de España y Edicions Universitat de Barcelona, 522 pp
Oxlade, E. (2007). Plant Physiology. Studymates Limited, 156 pp.
Russel L. J., Ougham, H., Thomas, H. & Waaland, S. (2012). The Molecular Life of Plants. Wiley-Blackwell, 766 pp.
Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Moller, T., Murphy, A. (2015). Plant Physiology and Development (6th Ed). Sinauer Associates, Inc. U.S.A., 761 pp.
