Plant cytology and histology. The organs of plants: root, stem, leaves. Cellular metabolism: cellular respiration and photosynthesis. The movement of water in the plant; the transport of photosynthates. The seed, germination and dormancy. Plant hormones. Plant responses to environmental factors. Elements of systematic botany and taxonomy. Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. Vegetation and forest landscapes.
1) Evert R.F., Eichhorn S., 2013. La biologia delle piante di Raven. Zanichelli, Bologna
2) Pasqua G., Abbate G., Forni C., 2010. Botanica Generale e Diversità Vegetale. Piccin, Padova
3) Grossoni P., Bruschi P., Bussotti F., Selvi F., 2018. Trattato di Botanica forestale. 1. Parte Generale e Gimnosperme. CEDAM Scienze Naturali Wolters Kluwer. Milano
4) Grossoni P., Bruschi P., Bussotti F., Pollastrini M., Selvi F., 2020. Trattato di Botanica forestale. 2. Angiosperme. CEDAM Scienze Naturali Wolters Kluwer. Milano.
Other didactic material (Presentations of the lessons held in the classroom; Identification keys for trees and shrubs) will be made available, during the course, on the Moodle platform of the SIAF - Unifi (http://e-l.unifi.it/).
Learning Objectives
Acquisition of fundamental knowledge on plant morphology, physiology and ecology and on their responses to environmental factors. Characteristics of vegetation and forest landscapes. Knowledge of tree species of urban and landscape interest; knowledge of the aspects related to their introduction and management in natural and urban environments.
Ability of reasoning, independent judgment and critical discussion of technical and scientific issues; acquisition of transversal skills with other courses.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons; exercises: techniques to identify tree species and setting up an herbarium. Field exercises: evaluation of vegetation in botanical gardens, parks and urban areas.
Further information
None
Type of Assessment
One oral exam at the end of the course. The exam will be carried out by the three professors and takes into consideration all topics addressed in the course and in exercises. During the semester, online tests will be carried out via the Moodle platform. The results of these tests will be discussed during the oral discussion (exam).
For the evaluation of the student, the property of language, the correct use of botanical terms, the clarity of presentation, the ability to link the different parts of the course, will be taken into consideration, in addition to the knowledge of all topics of the course.
Course program
1) Structure and function (M. Pollastrini)
Chemical composition of the plants: carbohydrates, lipids, protein and nucleic acids. Macromolecules, secondary metabolites. Structure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell. Biological membranes and water movement at cell level. Cell growth and differentiation. Plant tissues. Plant organs: root, stem and leaves. Morphological and functional changes of plant organs. Bioenergy and cell metabolism. Respiration, photosynthesis (light and dark phases). Photosynthesis in plants C3, C3, CAM. Photoinhibition.
Water movement in the plant (from root to leaves). Plant responses to drought. Phloem transport, reserves storage.
Seed: structure, germination, dormancy and quiescence.
Physiology of plant growth: plant hormones. Phototropism and geotropism. Non photosynthetic plant responses light-induced. Circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism.
Plant and soil: soil properties, mineral nutrition. Biotic relationships between plant and soil (nitrogen fixation, mycorrhizae).
2) Evolution and diversity (E. Carrari)
The concept of species, elements of taxonomy and plant systematics.
The significance of plant biodiversity. The evolution and the origin of a species. Cytodynamic, sexual and agamic reproduction.
Main characteristics of prokaryotes.
Notes on the main kingdoms of eukaryotes. Fungi and their symbiosis. Main groups and reproductive cycles of bryophytes and pteridophytes.
Seed plants (spermatophytes). Gymnosperms and Angiosperms: evolutionary characteristics, reproductive structures and life cycles. Introduction to the main taxa of ornamental and forest interest.
3) Trees, vegetation, and landscape (F. Bussotti)
The shape of plants. Biological forms. Herbaceous and woody plants. Tree and shrub. Growth, branching and growth patterns. Macroblasts and brachiblasts. Morphology of branchlet, leaf, wood, rhytidome and roots. Morphology of the juvenile and adult phase.
Flora and vegetation. Vegetation dynamism: the vegetation series and the climax. The distribution of the species of the vegetational types according to environmental factors. Chorology. Plant associations and the phytosociological system.
Forest vegetation in Italy. The main forest types and the species that characterize them: the evergreen Mediterranean sclerophyll vegetation, the Mediterranean pine forests, the xerothermic deciduous forests, the mesophilous deciduous broadleaf trees, the alluvial plain forests, the mountain coniferous forests, the altitude forests. Notes on invasive exotic species and on the main species of urban landscapes.