Explore UCD

UCD Home >

BOTN40190

Academic Year 2022/2023

Plants and Stress (BOTN40190)

Subject:
Botany
College:
Science
School:
Biology & Environment Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Wieland Fricke
Invalid Option
Invalid Option
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Invalid Option
Invalid Option
Invalid Option
Invalid Option

Curricular information is subject to change.

Invalid Option Plants, as animals, experience stress during their life time. Whereas the term 'stress' has mainly psychological implications for e.g. humans, 'stress' in plants refers more to the very basic needs of survival - having enough water, nutrients or energy. Plants experience a range of stresses, which can be classified into biotic stresses (such as grazing) or abiotic stresses (such as drought). In this module, we will be focussing on abiotic stresses, in particular drought, salinity, mineral nutrient limitation and heavy metals. Strategies that plants have evolved to cope with these stresses, be it either through 'facing' the stress or evading it, will be reviewed. The approach to this topic will be from the physiological point of view, with examples of underlying molecular mechanisms.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
- Develop a general understanding of the basic needs of plants and of the strategies that plants use to meet these needs even under adverse environmental conditions (stress);
- Understand stress concepts - the definition and origin of the term 'stress', general and specific responses to stress and basic similarities and differences in the response to stress between plants and animals (e.g. humans);
- Obtain in-depth understanding of responses of plants to the stresses drought, salinity, mineral nutrition and heavy metals;
- Understand the different strategies that plants use to cope with stress and to integrate responses at various organisational levels (e.g. plant, plant organ, tissue, cell);
- Also, advanced oral and group presentation skills.
Criteria for 4th-year level: In-depth understanding of complex responses; providing a synthesis of knowledge of basic processes of plants to understand their performance in a potentially stressful environment; view current stress concepts and plant responses critically.
Learning outcomes are met through oral presentation - topic related to plant stress of choice, requiring initiative; training of advanced oral and group presentation skills - and through an end of semester essay, requiring synthesis of advanced knowledge in a specified amount of time.

Indicative Module Content:

Plant abiotic stress - basic challenges and strategies (if any) to tackle those

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

103

Lectures

10

Small Group

10

Tutorial

2

Total

125


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Interactive

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Invalid Option
Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy Invalid Option
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Examination: Six Short answer questions, which cover the content of module (lectures; literature associated with lectures).
Each question requires answers of between 300-400 words; no optional questions
2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
No
Presentation: Group oral presentation on selected literature & topic Week 8 n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
No

Carry forward of passed components Invalid Option
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Interactive, feedback either way (staff-student)

Name Role
Dr Elke Eichelmann Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Rainer Melzer Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sonia Negrao Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Carl Ng Lecturer / Co-Lecturer