Plant Physiology

- To give to the students the required basic theoretical-practical knowledge for a correct understanding of the morphology, functions and activities of the higher plants.

- To understand that the plants elaborate a great amount of active principles of pharmaceutical interest whose syntheses and productivity are determined by genetic, ontogenic and environmental factors.

1. Programme of lectures

Unit 1. INTRODUCTION: Concept of Plant Physiology. Plants as source of food and drugs. The plant cell.

Unit 2. WATER RELATIONS: Concept of water potential. Absorption, transport and water loss. The stomatal apparatus.

Unit 3. MINERAL NUTRITION AND TRANSPORT: Essential elements. Absorption, transport and distribution of mineral nutrients. Phloem translocation.

Unit 4. PHOTOSYNTHESIS: Light phase and photophosphorylation. CO2 fixation in C3 plants, C4 and CAM. Synthesis of sucrose and starch. Photosynthesis, nitrogen and sulfur.

Unit 5. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT: Basics of plant development. Hormonal regulation and response to environmental stimuli.

Unit 6. SECONDARY METABOLISM: Concept. Types of secondary metabolites. Introduction to the plant biotechnology: production of metabolites by genetic engineering.


2. Program of practical classes

Practice 1. Determination of osmotic potential of plant tissue by plasmolytic method.

Practice 2. Determination of water potential by the gravimetric method.

Practice 3. Photosynthetic pigment separation.

Practice 4. Photosynthesis in isolated chloroplasts.

Practice 5. Effect of the cytokinins on the vegetal senescence.

1. Basic

- Azcón-Bieto, J., Talón, M. (2008). Fundamentos de Fisiología Vegetal. 2ª ed. McGraw Hill/ Interamericana. [Electronic version through the USC library (BUSC): http://sfx.bugalicia.org/san?sid=III:innopac&pid=id=9788448192938].

-Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Moller I. M., Murphy, A., Zeiger, E. (2022). Plant Physiology and Development. 7th ed. Sinauer Associates: Oxford University Press.


2. Complementary

- Buchanan, B., Gruissem, W., Jones, R. (2015). Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants. 2nd ed. Wiley-Blackwell. Hoboken.

- Smith, A.M., Coupland, G., Dolam, L., Harberd, N., Jones J., Martin, C., Sablowski, R., Amey, A. (2010). Plant Biology. Garland Science.

- Wink, M. (2010). Biochemistry of Plant Secondary Metabolism. 2nd ed. Annual Plant Review, Vol. 40. Willey-Blackwell. [Electronic version through the USC library (BUSC): http://sfx.bugalicia.org/san?sid=III:innopac&pid=id=9781444320503].

1. Knowledge

Con 10: To recognize the own limitations and the necessity to maintain and to update the professional competence, giving special importance to the self-learning of new knowledge being based on the scientific evidence available.

Con 19: To know the structures of the structures biomolecules and their transformations in cells.

Con 24: To know the medicinal plants: botanical diversity, physiology, use and management.

2. Skills or abilities

H/A 12. Develop skills related to the use of the beneficial effects of medicinal plants and understand the health risks associated with its misuse.

3.Competences

Comp 07: Resolution of problems.

Comp 18: Ability to apply knowledge in practice.

Comp 20: Ability to learn.

- Lectures: 2 hours of theory weekly, in which the theoretical contents of the subject are exposed.

- Interactive laboratory classes: They will be developed in the laboratory over five sessions. Students will be provided with a practice script and must attend each session after carefully reading its content. Attendance at all practical classes is mandatory.

- Interactive seminar classes: 2 sessions in which applications of the theory set out and solve, problems, exercises, reports, ... The student will actively participate in these classes of different forms: delivery of exercises to the Professor (some of the bulletin proposed ones of problems who the Professor gives to the students with the sufficient advance); resolution of exercises in the classroom, reports, etc. Assessment tests if any are included. Attendance at seminars is mandatory for continuous assessment.

- Tutorials: Activities like explanation of doubts will consider on theory or practices, problems, exercises, propose readings or other tasks.

1. The evaluation will consist of:

- Theoretical examination that will suppose a 70% of the final qualification. It will be necessary that the qualification obtained in the theoretical examination (maximum 7.0) is equal to or greater than 3.5 points to overcome this part and to assess the rest of merit. The exam will consist of short questions and/or type test. The qualification will only stay during the present academic course.

- Practical part, which will represent 15% of the final grade (maximum 1.5). This evaluation will take into account the work carried out by the student in the laboratory, as well as the understanding of the experimental results obtained, which will be carried out through a written test consisting of short questions and/or tests. It will be necessary for the grade obtained in the written test to be equal to or greater than 0.75 points to pass this part of the course. In case of failing this exam, recovery will take place with the second chance.
The practice mark will be maintained during the following 2 academic years in the event of failing the subject. For students suspended repeaters with practices governing the same rules as for attending the course for the first time.

- The attendance with active participation in the lectures and interactive seminar classes, as well as the elaboration of exercises of continuous evaluation, will constitute 15% rest of the final qualification (maximum 1.5). The qualification will only stay during the present academic course.

2. The sum of all the qualifications will have to be equal or superior to 5 points on 10 to approve the subject.

3. If you have to resort to the second opportunity of the course, the same evaluation criteria will be used.

4. The evaluation of the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired in the course will be done through the following channels:

- Theoretical exam: Con 10, Con 19, Con 24, Comp 07, Comp 18, Comp 20, H/D 12.

- Interactive laboratory classes: Con 24, Comp 07, Comp 18, Comp 20, H/D 12.

- Interactive seminar classes: Con 10, Con 19, Con 24, Comp 07, Comp 18, Comp 20, H/D 12.

1. Class work in the classroom (45 hours).
- Lectures: 22.5 hours.
- Interactive laboratory classes: 15 hours.
- Interactive seminar classes: 3 hours.
- Tutorials: 2 hours.
- Examinations and review: 2.5 hours.

2. Personal work (67.5 hours).
- Lectures (individual self-study or group): 45 hours.
- Interactive laboratory classes (prior preparation and its reporting practices): 6 hours.
- Interactive seminar classes: 9 hours.
- Tutorials (orientation and order of questions): 5 hours.

- Attendance at the lectures and interactive seminar classes as well as the realization of the proposed tasks, to maintain a continuous learning of the subject throughout the course.

- Study of the subject throughout the course for a better assimilation of the information received.

- Management of recommended bibliography, before each class, for better exposure monitoring teacher, and after it, to complete and correct the notes taken.

– All the above should be complemented by the use of tutorials to see all the questions that arise when studying the matter.