| Course ID: | HORT 8104. 4 hours. 3 hours lecture and 2 hours lab per week. |
| Course Title: | Advanced Plant Physiology |
Course
Description: | Plant physiological processes that control how plants grow and
respond to environmental cues. This course will look at how
processes at the molecular, cellular, and leaf level interact to
affect growth, with a focus on photosynthesis, nitrogen
metabolism, and hormone physiology. |
| Oasis Title: | Advanced Plant Physiology |
| Nontraditional Format: | Course will be taught in traditional format. |
| Prerequisite: | BCMB 6000 or HORT(CRSS) 4430/6430 or HORT(CRSS) 4440/6440-4440L-6440L |
Semester Course
Offered: | Offered spring semester every year. |
| Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
| Course Objectives: | 1. Integrate plant processes at different scales (molecular
biology, biochemistry, leaf level physiology, and whole-
plant/crop responses)
2. Improve one's ability to critically read and interpret
scientific literature
3. Develop critical thinking skills through the design and
execution of a scientific experiment |
| Topical Outline: | Molecular biology and biochemical regulation of metabolism
- Gene regulation
- Enzyme synthesis
- Control of enzymatic activity
Photosynthesis
- Biophysics: Light absorption, electron transport pathway,
conversion of light energy into chemical energy, dissipation
of excess light energy
- Biochemistry: Calvin Cycle, RubisCO activity,
Photorespiration
- Alternative photosynthetic pathways: C4 metabolism, CAM
metabolism
- Carbon fixation and plant growth: Light interception, carbon
use efficiency
Abscisic acid
- Metabolic and signaling pathways and their control
- Transport throughout the plant; short and long distance
- Physiological responses; stomatal regulation, cold
acclimation
- Impacts on plant growth
Nitrogen metabolism
- Regulation and physiology of root uptake of nitrate and
ammonium
- Nitrate and ammonium metabolism and its regulation
- Translocation of nitrogenous compounds
- Nitrogen and plant growth |