Course 2024-2025

Plant physiology [SBIOB228]

  • 4 credits
  • 30h+15h
  • 2nd quarter
Language of instruction: French / Français

Learning outcomes

- Cross-cutting approach to the subject

- Master the vocabulary related to the subject

- Master multidisciplinary approaches

Objectives

Comprehensive understanding of the physiology of higher plants

Content

The course is built on the fluxes within the plant.

The chapter on photosynthesis discusses the fluxes of energy and reducing power necessary for carbon assimilation, but also for the photoassimilation of nitrogen or sulphur derivatives.

The chapter on water and ion fluxes at the cellular and systemic level highlights the perpetual search for a compromise between assimilating CO2 via photosynthesis and water loss through evapotranspiration by regulating stomatal conductance.

Finally, the chapters on photo-perception and phytohormones reveal some physiological aspects of external and internal information fluxs affecting plant development.

Table of contents

- Photosynthesis: Light phase, dark phase and photo-assimilation
- Water fluxes: water and solute transoprt in the cell and in the plant, translocation in the phloem and stomatal physiology
- Ion fluxes: ions in the soil, ion entry into the root and salt stress
- Photo-perception: phytochromes, cryptochromes and phototropins
 

Exercises description

The practical work consist in the viewing of videos available on webcampus.


Teaching methods

PowerPoint presentations available on webcampus in PDF format. These documents are available at the beginning of the term.

Evaluations

Plan A face-to-face: written assessment

Plan B distance learning: Written evaluation with the webcampus TEST tool

Theory counts for 18/20; practical work for 2/20.

 

Recommended readings

• Plant Physiology and Development (6th edition, 2015), L Taiz, E Zeiger, IM Moller and A Murphy. Sinauer Associates, Inc.

• Plant biology. Nutrition and metabolism (2009), JF Morot-Gaudry. Dunod

Language of instruction

French / Français

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté des sciences
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree