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Plant Physiology I

Course developers

Prior knowledge

Ķīmi1012, Chemistry

Course abstract

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, biologically active compounds and their role in cells and plants Enzymes and environmental factors influencing their activity. Cell membranes. Uptake and release of substances from the cell. Water regime. Stomata Transpiration. Mineral elements, their role in plant. Biological nitrogen fixation. Plant pigments. Photosynthesis, dark and light reactions, role of environmental factors. Respiration and environmental conditions affecting it. Plant productivity.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students gain knowledge about plant cells and organisms, biochemistry and metabolism, physiological processes in plants, endogenous and exogenous conditions affecting them. Three tests
Students are able to determine the most important physiological parameters of plants. Elaboration and defence of laboratory works.
Students are able to evaluate the factors affecting and limiting plant productivity, understand their impact on yield formation. Elaboration and defence of laboratory works.
Students' knowledge is assessed in tests on plant cell biochemistry, plant water regime and mineral nutrition, photosynthesis and respiration. Test marks consist of three quarters of the final grade defending laboratory work-one quarters.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Subject of plant physiology, connection with other branches of science, research methodology. 1h
2. Plant cell, its composition, functioning. 1h
3. Carbohydrates, lipids in plants. 1h
4. Proteins, nucleic acids. 1h
5. Enzymes and factors affecting their activity. 1h
6. Products of secondary metabolisms in plants. Biologically active compounds and their role in cells and organism. 1h
7. Cell membranes. Uptake and release of substances from the cell. 1h
8. Water regime of plants. Water uptake by plants, factors affecting it. 1h
9. Plant water regime. Stomata. Transpiration. 1h
10. Mineral elements, their physiological role in plants. 1h
11. Biological nitrogen fixation. Mycorrhiza. 1h
12. Photosynthesis. Plant pigments. Chemistry of photosynthesis. Light and dark reactions. 1h
13. Photosynthesis, its exogenous and endogenous regulation. 1h
14. Plant respiration, its chemistry. 1h
15. Endogenous and exogenous regulation of respiration1h
16. Plant productivity, possibilities of its regulation1

Thematic plan of laboratory works:
1) Plasmolysis.
2) Osmotic phenomena in the plant cell.
3) Plant Protein.
4) Carbohydrates.
5) Enzymatic degradation of carbohydrates.
6) Determination of catalase and / or dehydrogenase activity.
7) Stomata.
8) Transpiration.
9) Determination of mineral elements in plant ash.
10) Plant pigments.
11) Determination of photosynthetic intensity.
12) Determination of respiration intensity.
13) Transformation of organic matter during germination of seeds.

14) Plant frost resistance.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Working out and answering of laboratory works. Successfully written 3 tests. Finally- Test with mark.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Reporting of laboratory works and explanation of the obtained results. Independent work in preparation for tests.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Tests
Plant cell and biochemistry 25%
Plant water regime and mineral nutrition 25%
Photosynthesis and respiration 25%

Labs ( worked out and defenced) 25%

Compulsory reading

1. Ieviņš Ģ. Augu fizioloģija. Funkcijas un mijiedarbība ar vidi. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2016. 607 lpp.
2. Mauriņa H. Augu fizioloģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1987. 358 lpp.

3. Taiz L., Zeiger E. Plant Physiology. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, 2006. 764 p.

Further reading

1. Физиология и биохимия сельскохозяйственных растений. Под ред. Н.Н. Третьякова; [авт. : Н.Н. Третьяков ... [и др.]. 2-е изд., перераб и доп. Москва: КолосС, 2005. 654 с.

2. Heldt H.W. Plant biochemistry and molecular biology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. 522 p.

Periodicals and other sources

1. AgroTops Rīga: Aģentūra Agro apgāds ISSN 1407-5164.

2. Saimnieks LV. Rīga: TEE BIO, 2004- ISSN 1691-1598.

Notes

Mandatory course of Professional higher education Bachelor program "Agriculture" and academic Bachelor Study Program “Sustainable Agriculture”