Plant Development

Year
0
Academic year
2022-2023
Code
01000773
Subject Area
Biology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

General knowledge of cell biology.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical and practical classes during the semester. Students will grouped (3 – 5) and will develop a work related with one particular subject of plant development. The presentations will be discussed with the professor and colleagues and, by the end of the course, students will write a report and will present and discuss their work.  

Learning Outcomes

Students will learn concept and methods used in the study of plant development. Applications of the studies of plant development in practical subjects. By the end of the course the students must have acquired skills and knowledge which will able them to understand the mechanisms of plant development and the ways how they can be studied.

1. Understanding capacity: to be able to understand concepts related with development and to relate them with practical applications in areas such as agriculture and plant biotechnology

2. Ability to solve practical problems: to apply the concepts and methods learnt on this course to solve practical issues.

3. Communication: be able to analyse scientific information and to transmit it in a clear and concise way either in oral or written form.

4. Self learning: to be able and autonomous in the preparation and analysis of scientific experiments. Show the capacity to interpret scientific data.  

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. General aspects of plant development

- The plant cell

- Cell wall

- Experimental methods

- Organization of the plant body

- Tissues and functions

2. Embryo development

- Phases of embryo development

- Embryo development in Arabidopsis

- Genes controlling embryo development

- Auxins and the transition of symmetry

3. The apical meristems

- Organization of the shot apical meristem (SAM)

- Interaction between genes controlling the SAM

- Axillary meristems

- The genetic control of the activity of the root apical meristem

4. Secondary meristems

- Vascular cambium and vascular tissues

- Cork cambium and periderm

- Genetic control of the secondary meristems

5. Reproductive development

- Floral organs formation. Genetic control of flowering. The ABC model

- Physiological control of flower formation: photoperiod and vernalization

- Seed and fruit development

Head Lecturer(s)

Jorge Manuel Pataca Leal Canhoto

Assessment Methods

Assessement
Mini Tests: 25.0%
Synthesis work: 25.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

Beck, C., 2005. An Introduction to Plant Structure and Development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Evert, R. F., 2006. Esau’s Plant Anatomy. Wiley-Interscience, Oxford

Howell, S.H., 1998. Molecular Genetics of Plant Development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Leyser, O. & Day, S., 2003. Mechanisms in Plant Development. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.

Pua, E.-C & Davey, M. R. 2010. Plant Developmental Biology – Biotechnological Perspectives. Vol. 1 e Vol. 2. Springer, Berlin.

Raghavan, V., 2000. Developmental Biology of Flowering Plants. Springer, New York.

Taiz, L. & Zeiger, E., 2010. Plant Physiology, 3ª ed.. Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers. Sunderland, Massachusetts.