Plant cell. Cell organelles. Photosynthesis. Mitosis, meiosis. Morphology and anatomy of stem, root and leaves. Uptake. Mineral nutrition. Water balance. Transport of organic compounds. Hormones. Morphogenesis. General concepts of plant systematics: reproduction, species, classifications. Notes on Prokaryotes, Fungi, Algae. Main features of Bryophytes. Vascular plants and evolutionary significance of stem, leaf, root. Seedless vascular plants: main features, diversity, evolutionary relations. Heterospory.
Textbooks:
Raven P. H., Evert R. F., Eichhorn S. E., 1990. Biologia delle piante. Zanichelli editore, Bologna; or Evert R. F., Eichhorn S. E., 2013. La biologia delle piante di Raven. Zanichelli editore, Bologna
Signorini M.A. Appunti di Botanica sistematica. (www.agr.unifi.it).
Suggested: Pasqua Abbate Forni, 2007 - Botanica generale e diversità vegetale. Ed. Piccin.
In English: Moore R., Clark W. D., Vodopich D. S., 1998. Botany. WCB/MvGRaw-Hill editor. Hickey M. & King C., 1997.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired: to provide criteria and instruments in order to know and understand:
- material and energetic bases of living systems;
- relations between plant structures and functions and relations between organisms;
- plant diversity within an evolutionary approach.
Competence acquired (at the end of the course):
to know how the plant cells work, which are the main features of plants and in particular of seedless plants (Bryophytes, Vascular seedless plants), also in an evolutionary perspective.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
to be able to:
- describe and understand morphology and anatomical structures of plants and their related functions;
- identify the main groups of seedless plants, also understanding their evolutionary relations.
Prerequisites
Students are expected to be familiar with principles and terminology of biology.
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, etc...): 150
Hours reserved to private study and other individual formative activities: 145
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 36
Contact hours for: Laboratory lectures and practice, fieldwork (hours): 12
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab, although non compulsory, is strongly recommended.
Teaching tools
Video projector, PC, overhead projector, fresh and dried plant specimens.
Type of Assessment
Exam modality: oral examination on the subjects of lectures and laboratory.
Course program
LECTURES
Diversity of living organisms and the Five Kingdoms theory (Monera, Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia).
Evolution and natural selection.
Structure and functions of plant cell.
Ultrastructure and functions of biological membranes. Plasmalemma. Nucleus. Cytoskeleton. Rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes. Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, cell wall, plastids, vacuole: origin, structure and functions.
Basic principles of C3, C4 and CAM photosynthesis. Properties and water movement. Transmembrane transport. Mitosis and meiosis. Fertilization. Gametes and spores. Gametophyte and Sporophyte. Life cycles. Sexual and vegetative reproduction.
Morphological organization and anatomical structure of vascular plants. General mechanisms of differentiation.
Plant tissues: primary and secondary meristems (vascular and cork cambium). Somatic tissues: tegumental, parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma, vascular and secretory tissues.
Primary structure of stem and root in Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. Leaf anatomy and morphology. Secondary structure of stem and root in Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Plant water relationships.
Transpiration and stomata functioning. Absorption by roots and water flow in the xilem. Transport of organic compounds. Plant hormones: characteristics of the major plant hormones. Mineral nutrition. Micorrhizae. Cycle of Nitrogen. Quiescence and dormancy in seeds and buds. Seed germination. Budbreak.
General concepts of Plant systematics. The species concept in plants. The species name. Systematic classifications and Taxonomic units (taxa).
Notes on Prokaryotes, Fungi, Algae. Evolutionary relationships between Green Algae (Chlorophyta) and Land Plants.
Terrestrial plants or true plants (Embryobionta). Evolutionary spurs to movement to land.
Main features of the Bryophytes: reproduction, life cycle, diversity, ecological importance.
Vascular Plants or Tracheophytes. The origin of stem, leaf and root.
Seedless vascular plants ('pteridophytes'). Main groups. Selaginella as an example of heterosporous plant. Polypodiophyta (ferns). Equisetophyta (horstails).
PRACTICES
Structure and ultra structure of plant cell.
Anatomy of root, stem and leaf in Angiosperms and Gymnosperms.
Morphological features of vegetative organs in plants.
Observation in the field of plants belonging to the studied groups.