Fundamental structure and biological functions (plant cell, bioenergetic, photosynthesis, growth and reproduction).
Forms and functions of plants (plant tissues, leaf and transpiration, stem and water transport, root and mineraql nutrition). Seed germination and growth physiology.
Diversity and evolution (life cycles of plants; characteristics of angiosperms and gymnosperms). £Elements of plant ecology.
Evert R.F., Eichhorn S., 2013. La biologia delle piante di Raven. Zanichelli, Bologna.
Pasqua G., Abbate G., Forni C., 2010. Botanica Generale e Diversità Vegetale. Piccin, Padova
Grossoni P., Bruschi P., Bussotti F., Selvi F., 2018. Trattato di Botanica forestale. 1. Parte Generale e Gimnosperme. CEDAM Scienze Naturali Wolters Kluwer. Milano.
Gellini R., Grossoni P., 1997. Botanica forestale. II. Angiosperme. CEDAM. Padova.
Other material available on the platform
http://e-l.unifi.it/
Learning Objectives
Basic knowledge about the structure and the organization of the higher plants at cell, tissue and organ levels, and their functioning in relation to environmental factors. Elements of evolution and systematic.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course): To recognize the best conditions for plant growth. Techniques to recognize trees.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons.
Field and laboratory exercitations.
Further information
None.
Type of Assessment
Oral examination. The evaluation of the student takes in account the following aspects: language skills, the linearity and logical development of the subject, the autonomy and the capacity for critical reasoning.
Course program
The cell. Chemical compounds; wall; cytoplasm; vacuoles; plastids; mitochondria, ribosomes. Nucleic acids. The chromosomes. Mitosis and growth. Cell differentiation. The meristems.
The seeds and germination.
The leaf. Teguments; stomata and guard cells; thricoma. Parenchyma tissues. Dorseventral leaves. Epidermis, mesophyll and the sheath bundle. The foliar abscission. Different kind of leaves.
The stem structure. Xylem and phloem tissues. The conducting bundles. Mechanical tissues. The radial growth.
The root. Growing zones. The root hairs. The endodermis. Lateral roots.
Metabolism. Glycolysis and Krebs cycle. The diffusion of solutes. Cell Membranes. Symplast and Apoplast.
Photosynthesis. The pigments. The photosystems. Luminous phase (Z scheme). Dark phase: the CO2 fixation and the Calvin cycle. Photorespiration. C4 and CAM plants. Ecology of photosynthesis.
Growth physiology and biorhythms. Hormones and growth control. Photoperiod. Phytochrome. Seeds and buds dormancy.
Water and solutes transport. Xylem and phloem transport. Transpiration by cuticles and by stomata. Mechanisms of stomatal opening. Stress behaviour: tolerant and avoidant strategies. Acclimation responses.
Mineral nutrition. Cationic Exchange Capacity. Macro and micro-elements.
Reproduction. Gamic and agamic reproduction. Meiosis. Elements of genetic and evolution.
Taxonomy, origin of species and evolution.
Systematic Botany. Life cycles and evolution characters of the main groups of plants: mosses, ferns, and seed plants. The most important families interesting for tree nursery and urban green.
Distribution of plants and elements of plant ecology.