Course Details

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

S1731

Course
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Code
S1731
Academic Year
2026/2027
Curriculum Year
2024/2025
Degree Programme
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Curriculum
000 - CORSO GENERICO
Course coordinator
Cristina PAGLIANO
Lecturers
Cristina PAGLIANO
Credits
9
Lecture Hours
72
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
BIO/04 - Vegetal Physiology
Course Type
Single-subject learning activity
Course Delivery
OBB - Obbligatoria
Year
3
Teaching period
Primo Semestre
Campus
ALESSANDRIA
Teaching language
Italian
Course Contents

1.    GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTS AND PECULIARITY OF PLANT CELLS

2.    TRANSPORTATION OF WATER, SOLUTES AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC PRODUCTS

3.    METABOLISM

4.    GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEFENSE

5.    PLANT AND ENVIRONMENT

6.    ROLE OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT BIOTECNOLOGY

Reference Texts

Taiz – Zeiger - Fisiologia Vegetale Piccin Padova 2012

Taiz L. - Fisiologia e sviluppo vegetale - Piccin Padova 2024

Rascio N. - Elementi di Fisiologia vegetale - Edises 2021

Learning Outcomes

Develop the ability to interpret in a mechanistic manner the basic phenomena related to plant life.

Understand the relationships between plant physiology and cultivation practice, both in optimal conditions and in limiting environmental conditions.

Prerequisites

To understand the plant physiological mechanisms, the discussion of the topics in the programme will rely on previous knowledge of cell and plant biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics and mathematics.

Teaching Methods
The course consists of lectures presenting the programme with the aid of slides (transmissive modality). The slides, together with material for further reading, will be available on the teaching website.
Additional Information

Control of the learning capacity by discussing the topics during the lessons. In any case, the teacher will be available on appointment for clarifications on the topics of the lessons or on the material provided.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e

agli Studenti,         consulting         the                            University                webpage:

https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities.

Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Assessment Methods
The exam is a written test based on multiple choice questions and descriptive response questions with the aim of verifying the knowledge and understanding of the points of the entire program treated. Students will have 2 hours to complete the assignment, divided into 30 minutes to answer to 10 multiple choice questions (maximum total score 4 points, maximum score for each question 0.4 points, penalty for wrong answer 0.1 point) and 90 minutes to answer to 13 questions on specific topics with descriptive answer (maximum total score 26 points, maximum score for each question 2 points). The final mark will be the sum of the two partial marks. The final grading is expressed on a 30-point scale. Specifically:
30 cum laude (Excellent): Comprehensive, in-depth knowledge that demonstrates critical synthesis. Excellent ability to link physiological processes within the plant in a systemic and logical manner. Full command of scientific terminology and fluent, rigorous, and clear presentation. High level of independent judgment and excellent capacity for interdisciplinary connections.
28 – 30 (Very Good): Comprehensive and well-structured knowledge of the topics. High capacity for applying concepts and critically analyzing physiological processes within the plant. Excellent command of field-specific terminology and clarity of expression.
25 – 27 (Good): Good knowledge of most course content. Fair ability to connect different physiological processes, with only minor, insignificant inaccuracies. Correct and appropriate use of language.
22 – 24 (Fair): Overall adequate knowledge of fundamental concepts, though with some gaps or inaccuracies regarding less significant details. Logical physiological reasoning, though primarily based on memorization. Correct but simple language.
18 – 21 (Sufficient): Elementary knowledge of the basic concepts of plant physiology. Limited ability to link different physiological processes; approach is primarily based on factual recall. Simple language with minor terminological uncertainties.
Detailed Syllabus

1.  GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTS AND PECULIARITY OF PLANT CELLS

Cell wall, chloroplasts, vacuole, plasmodesmata.

 

2.    TRANSPORTATION OF WATER, SOLUTES AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC PRODUCTS

Movement of water from the ground to the atmosphere. Electrochemical potential of water and water potential. Movement of water in the plant. Mineral nutrition and absorption of solutes. Transport, allocation and distribution of photosynthesis products.

 

3. METABOLISM

Photosynthesis: light reactions. Photosynthetic apparatus, linear and cyclic photosynthetic electron flow. Photoinhibition. Site of action of photosynthetic herbicides. Photosynthesis: dark reactions. The Rubisco enzyme and the CO2 fixation. Calvin Benson cycle (C3). Photorespiration. C4 and CAM plants. Starch and sucrose biosynthesis.

Nitrogen and sulfur assimilation.

 

4. GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEFENSE

Importance of light as an environmental signal. Photoreceptors: phytochromes, cryptochromes and phototropins.

Plant hormones: Auxin, Gibberellin, Cytokinins, Abscisic acid, Ethylene.

 

5. PLANT AND ENVIRONMENT

Introduction to plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.

 

6. ROLE OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT BIOTECNOLOGY

Historical outline of plant biotechnology.Importance of plant physiology and biotechnology for the improvement of crop plants.

Expected Learning Outcomes

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ABILITY

To be able to integrate the knowledge acquired through the theoretical lessons with the ability developed individually to understand and analyse biochemical, physiological and morphogenetic processes of plant organisms and their regulation.

 

ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

To be able to associate the fundamentals of plant physiology to the growth and production models of crop plants, and the relationships cause-effect that determine what happens in practice.

 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

To be able to elaborate clearly and rigorously and to summarize the contents of the discipline in a concise manner, using appropriate terms during the examination.

 

AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT

To be able of critical analysis of the elements related to what acquired during the lessons.

 

LEARNING ABILITY

To be able to describe in an exhaustive manner scientific issues related to plant physiology. This ability will be developed by autonomously deepening the topics covered in class, by reading additional texts and scientific articles.

Last update:21-10-2026 00:13:19