Plant Morphology and Physiology

General

• Code: TΑBO-24-Β4
• Semester: 2nd
• Study Level: Undergraduate
• Course type: Special Background
• Teaching and exams language: Greek (English for Erasmus students)
• The course is offered to Erasmus students
• Teaching Methods (Hours/Week): Lectures (3) / Practice works (2)
• ECTS Units: 5
• Course homepage: https://eclass.emt.ihu.gr/courses/FD170/
• Instructors: Karapatzak Eleftherios

Course Contents

• Introductory concepts (plant cell and its function in relation to the morphology and physiology of the plant organism).
• General elements of systematic classification of plants, presentation of the main levels of classification as well as separation of plant species according to the biological cycle.
• Internal anatomy of plant body, presentation of basic tissues and organs.
• Plant morphology – presentation of plant morphology with representative examples of taxa, families and annual/perennial species. Analysis of the complexity of morphology in perennial species and its connection with physiological processes5) The importance of water in plant life (osmosis, water potential, uptake and transport of water, transpiration).
• Nutrient uptake (rhizosphere, uptake and transport of nutrients, nitrogen fixation, N and S assimilation and metabolism, oxidative stress).
• Photosynthesis (chloroplast, structure of photosystems, function of photosystems, protection and repair of photosystems, carbon cycles, CAM-metabolism, starch biosynthesis).
• Respiration (Krebs cycle, main respiratory chain, coupled oxidative phosphorylation, alternative electron transport chain, mobilization of energy reserves, thermogenesis, thermoregulation).
• Plant responses to light (light perception, photoreceptors, photomorphogenetic reactions).
• Scotomorphogenesis, photomorphogenesis (growth regulation mechanisms in light/dark).
• Ecological significance of phytocolours (seed germination, shading).
• Phototropism (tropism theory, the role of auxin).
• Photoperiodic control of flowering (short and long day plants, the diode mechanism, the importance of photoreceptors, mechanisms that regulate flowering).
• Hormones (perception, chemical groups, trafficking, action, postharvest physiology).
• Hormones in practice (in vitro applications, effect on the cell cycle, biotechnological extensions/applications).
• Strains.

Educational Goals

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will:

• Has knowledge of the morphology and anatomy of a plant body in relation to the systematic classification of the species.
• Has understood the connection and interaction of morphology with physiological processes.
• Has understood the role of water and inorganic nutrients in maintaining the homeostasis of a plant organism.
• He has realized the importance of photosynthesis for the growth of the plant, the production of biomass, raw materials for industry, bioenergy and food.
• Has knowledge of respiration, the processes of mobilization of energy reserves and the action of agricultural preparations that inhibit respiration.
• Has understood the response of plants to light to ensure the completion of the biological cycle.
• Has knowledge about endogenous hormones of plant origin and their applications in the field and in vitro.
• Has understood the response of plants to abiotic stresses and the effects of climate change.
• Can collaborate with fellow students to jointly analyze and present a project or study aimed at understanding the physiological functions of plants and relating them to contemporary problems in agricultural production.
• It has developed and improved its ability to access libraries and scientific journals on-line.
• Has strengthened the skills of analysis and presentation of research and bibliographic data.

General Skills

• Search, analysis and synthesis of data and information, using the necessary technologies.
• Adaptation to new situations.
• Decision making.
• Autonomous work.
• Team work.
• Generation of new research ideas.
• Project planning and management.
• Exercise criticism and self-criticism.
• Application of knowledge in practice.
• Respect for the natural environment.

Teaching Methods

• In the classroom, face to face.

Use of ICT means

• Basic software (windows, word, power point, the web, etc.).
• Support of learning process through the electronic platform / e-class.

Teaching Organization

Students Evaluation

Assessment Method:

1. Written final exam (40%), of graded difficulty, which includes:
   • Multiple choice questions.
   • Questions of short theoretical development.
   • Problems / exercises based on theoretical ones.
   • knowledge developed in traditions.
2. Laboratory Exercises (20%).
3. Group and Individual Assignments (40%).

Therefore: the overall grade is obtained as a sum of the above three individual evaluations.