General information
| Course type | AMUPIE |
| Module title | Plant Physiology |
| Language | English |
| Module lecturer | prof. dr hab. Magdalena Arasimowicz-Jelonek, prof. UAM dr hab. Renata Rucińska -Sobkowiak, dr. hab. Joanna Chmielewska-Bąk, dr hab. Małgorzata Adamiec, dr hab. Teresa Lehmann, dr Magda Grabsztunowicz |
| Lecturer's email | msolin@amu.edu.pl |
| Lecturer position | professor, assistant professor |
| Faculty | Faculty of Biology |
| Semester | 2025/2026 (summer) |
| Duration | 60 |
| ECTS | 8 |
| USOS code | 01-PLANTPHYS-PIE |
Timetable
One group
Lectures: 20 hours
The final grade is upon a final test
Laboratory: 30 hours
The final grade is based upon class activity, performing student tasks, protocols from lab classes and final poster presentation - attendance is obligatory
Seminars: 10 hours
The final grade is upon student presentation - the attendance is obligatory
Module aim (aims)
Transferring the knowledge about the processes occurring in living cells and tissues throughout the plant and dependencies between processes.
Transferring knowledge about the relationship between the structure and function of cells, tissues, and plant organism.
Developing skills in summary of the results and conclusions based on the analysis of presented texts.
Developing practical skills required in laboratory work in life science laboratories such as planning experiments and hypothesis formulation.
Showing typical experimental techniques used in plant biology.
Illustration of the variety of experimental approaches used in the study of physiological processes of higher plants under abiotic stress conditions.
Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)
Elementary knowledge of botany and biochemistry, basic laboratory skills, and social ability to work in a group.
Syllabus
TK_01 Resource acquisition and transport in a vascular plant. Different mechanisms transport substances over short or long distances. Transpiration is the driving force for the transport of water and minerals from roots to shoots via the xylem and sugar transport from source to sink via the phloem.
TK_02 Soil and plant nutrition - essential elements to complete plant life cycle.
TK_03 Plant physiology of respiration. Cellular respiration, fermentation and alternative pathways.
TK_04 Photosynthesis - the process that feeds the biosphere. Photosynthesis and its mechanisms: conversion of light energy to the chemical energy of food, conversion of solar energy to the chemical energy of ATP and NADPH, the Calvin cycle mechanism. Alternative mechanisms of carbon fixation.
TK_05 Plant responses to internal and external signals. Stimuli and a stationary life. Signal transduction pathways link signal reception to response. Plant hormones help to coordinate growth, development, and responses to stimuli. Responses to light. Plants respond to abiotic stimuli other than light. Plants respond to attacks by pathogens.
TK_06 Characterization of proteins involved in plant stress response
TK_07 How to plan an experiment in science
TK_08 Measurements of accumulation level of biochemical compounds involved in abiotic stress response
TK_09 Modulation of antioxidant enzymes activity in a response to abiotic stress
TK_10 Modern techniques used in plant physiological status assessment
TK_11 Plant biological databases helpful in plant physiology research
Reading list
- R. Jones, H. Ougham, H. Thomas, S. Waaland: The molecular life of plants, Willey-Blackwell, 2013
- L. Taiz, E. Zeiger, IM Moller, A. Murphy: Plant Physiology and development, Sinauer Associates, Inc., 2018