COURSE CONTENT
The course provides basic knowledge about physiological processes at the level of plant cells, tissues, organs and the whole plant, the regulation of physiological and metabolic processes, and the responses of plants to changes in living conditions.
LECTURES
1. Introduction to plant physiology. Plant cell - function of membranes, plastids, microbodies, vacuoles and cytoskeleton.
2. Cell wall - function and biosynthesis, surface protection compounds.
3. Water and plant cells - water absorption, movement and loss.
4. Mineral nutrition - essential nutrients. Solute transport across membranes. Mycorrhiza. Carnivorous plants.
5. Assimilation of mineral nutrients (nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, oxygen, cations). Biological nitrogen fixation.
6. Photosynthesis - organisation of photosynthetic apparatus, photochemical reactions.
7. The Calvin cycle and its regulation. Photorespiration. C3, C4 and CAM plants.
8. Synthesis of starch and sucrose. Physiological and ecological aspects of photosynthesis. Assimilate translocation in the phloem. Photosynthesis in prokaryotes.
9. Respiration process in plant. Respiration of intact plant and tissues. Lipid metabolism. Heterotrophy in plants.
10. Growth, differentiation and development. Plant signalling.
11. Plant hormones (metabolism, transport, physiological effects): auxins and gibberellins.
12. Plant hormones: cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethylene and brassinosteroids.
13. Secondary metabolism in plants, plant defense mechanisms.
14. Effects of light on plant growth and development. Control of flowering.
15. Stress physiology. Physiology of movement.
PRACTICAL WORK
Application of obtained theoretical knowledge in laboratory work, with achieving practical skills in using laboratory equipment and methods.
1. Introduction to the good laboratory practice. Microscopic identification of specific plant cell structures.
2. Qualitative and quantitative determination of carbohydrates and organic acids in plant tissues.
3. Water in plant cells. Plasmolysis. Determination of osmotic potential in plant cells.
4. Cohesion-tension theory. Transpiration. Guttation. Measurement of stomatal apertures.
5. Identification and function of some cations and anions in plant cells and tissues.
6. Preparation of plant material for analyses. Lyophilization. Plant extraction and isolation of plant pigments.
7. Separation and identification of plant pigments by thin-layer chromatography.
8. Spectrophotometric determination of photosynthetic pigments absorption spectra.
9. Determination of photosynthesis rate by oxygen electrode.
10. Starch evidence in leaves. Spectrophotometric determination of amylase activity.
11. Starch synthesis by starch phosphorylase. Proteins in plant tissues.
12. Determination of plant respiration. Model of respiratory chain.
13. Effects of auxin, gibberellin, cytokinins and ethylene.
14. Determination of plant secondary metabolites.
15. Plant movements.
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