Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this course, students will:
Have a clear understanding of plant physiology and development - how plants harvest light energy and acquire nutrients from the soil to sustain growth and the role of plant hormones in development.
Appreciate the importance of interaction with beneficial microorganisms for plant health.
Be introduced to plant biotechnology and its applications for solving problems associated with population growth and climate change.
Gain useful laboratory skill in working with plants.
Have an understanding of the breadth of research in Plant Biology at and the national and global problems these research efforts are endeavouring to solve.
Indicative Module Content:
Why study plant biology.
Plant evolution and diversity: Transition from water to land and evolution.
Plant cell: Plastids/pigments/endosymbiosis theory - differences with mitochondria.
Plant anatomy, morphology, and plant nutrition: Leaf, root, xylem, phloem, nutrient uptake and transport.
Photosynthesis and gaseous exchange: Different kinds of photosynthetic systems (C4/C3/CAM), and their biochemistry, stomatal function, including applications, and ecological implications.
Plant hormones – regulation of development and stress responses: Classical versus new hormones, functions of plant hormones.
Plants are not alone: mutualistic interactions with pollinators, mutualistic interactions with soil fungi - mycorrhizae - feed into hormones (strigalactones), plant microbiome, plant pathogens including Agrobacterium and biotech, competition - interaction with other plants.
Plant Biotechnology: plant tissue culture and importance in medicine and bioactive compound production, uses in agriculture and horticulture (including mycorrhizal and endophyte biotechnology).
Plant diversity and ecology: Why is plant biodiversity important, including plant-climate interactions.