Plant Physiology
| Lecturer | Yukiko MIZUKAMI, Ph.D |
|---|---|
| Department | School of Science / Graduate School of Science, 2017 Fall |
| Recommended for: | G30 Biology Programs Term V (2・1.5 hours / session One session / week) |
In Brief
This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of concepts, principles, and strategies concerning the basic mechanisms underlying plant growth, development, and survival. Topics covered include mineral nutrition, solute transport, photosynthesis, respiration, metabolism, environmental and developmental signals, and plant hormone action.
Key Features
The course is designed to give the student an opportunity to practice oral presentations. Each student gets involved in this active-learning process by giving two presentations during the 15 week-course period.
Initially the instructor gives two lectures at the beginning of the course. From class 3 of the course, one to three students per class, depending on the size of the class, are assigned to give individual presentations on a specific topic(s) from the textbook chapter (see the attached student presentation schedule of 2014). Each student presentation is followed by a question-and-answer session and a discussion session involving all students in the class. Finally, class is concluded with a lecture by the instructor that summarizes and supplements student presentations.
This active-learning method applied to the course aims to help students;
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- develop his/her oral communication skills,
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- stimulate discussion in the class,
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- become self-motivated to learn in an active and creative manner.
Examples of the student presentations (PDF files of Ppt presentation slides) from the classes of 2013 and 2014 are shown in the "Class Materials" section below.
Teacher's Tips
In general...
- 1)Attend all classes!!!
Before coming to each class...
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- Read the assigned textbook chapter(s)
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- Prepare your questions on lecture topic(s)
In class...
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- Participate in classroom discussions
In making and improving your PowerPoint presentation (ppt)...
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- Follow presentation guidelines to organize your ppt
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- Send your ppt to instructor a few days prior to your presentation and get advice
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- Revise your ppt by including all suggestions given by the instructor
Course Schedule
| Date | Topic | Sub-topic | Chapter & Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Course Overview | - Plant Growth and Development |
Chapter 16 453-492 |
| Week 2 | 1. Plant Cells |
- Overview of Plant Structure - The endomembrane system - The plant cytoskeleton - The plant cell cycle - Plasmodesmata |
Chapter 1 1-31 |
| Week 3 |
2. Genome Organization & Gene Expression |
- Nuclear Genome Organization - Plant Cytoplasmic Genomes - Posttranslational Regulation - Genetic Modification of Plants - Tools for Studying Plant Genes |
Chapter 2 35-61 |
| Week 4 | 3. Mineral Nutrition & Solute Transport |
- Essential Nutrients - Nutritional Deficiencies - Soil, Roots, and Microbes |
Chapter 5 107-126 |
| Week 5 | 4. Overview of Photosynthesis & Translocation in the Phloem |
- General Concepts - Pathways of Translocation - Patterns of Translocation - Phloem Loading & Unloading - Photosynthate Distribution |
Chapter 10 271-299 |
| Week 6 | 5. Respiration |
- Overview of Plant Respiration - Plant Glycolysis - Respiration in Intact Plants |
Chapter 11 305-338 |
| Week 7 | 6. Plant Defense & Adaptation to Abiotic Stress |
- Secondary Metabolites & Plant Defense - Biotic & Abiotic Stresses - Adaptation & Plasticity - Developmental & Physiological Mechanisms |
Chapter 13 369-396 Chapter 26 755-778 |
| Week 8 | Review (I) | - Topics 1-6 | |
| Midterm Exam | |||
| Week 9 | 7. Cell Walls: Structure, Biogenesis, and Expansion I |
- Structure and Synthesis - Patterns of Cell Expansion - The Rate of Cell Expansion |
Chapter 15 425-448 |
| Week 10 | 8. Plant hormones in Plant Growth & Development-I: AUXIN |
- Overview of Plant Growth - The Auxin Concepts - Transport - Signal Transduction Pathways - Actions and Effects |
Chapter 19 545-578 |
| Week 11 | 9. Plant hormones in Plant Growth & Development-II: GIBBERELLINS |
- Discovery and Structure - Effects on Plant Growth - Biosynthesis and Deactivation - GA Signaling - GA Responses |
Chapter 20 583-614 |
| Week 12 | 10. Plant hormones in Plant Growth & Development-III: CYTOKININS |
- Cell Division & Plant Growth - Biosynthesis, Metabolism, & Transport - Cytokinin Signaling - Biological Roles |
Chapter 21 621-643 |
| Week 13 | 11. Plant hormones in Plant Growth & Development-IV: ABSCISIC ACID |
- Chemical Structure - Biosynthesis, Metabolism, & Transport - Signal Transduction Pathways - Biological Roles |
Chapter 23 673-693 |
| Week 14 | 12. Plant hormones in Plant Growth & Development-V: ETHYLENE & BRASSINOSTEROIDS |
- Structuture, Biosynthesis - Signal Transduction Pathways - Effects on Growth & Development |
Chapter 22 649-668 Chapter 24 700-715 |
| Week 15 | Review (II) | - Topics 7-12 | |
| Final Exam |
Student Pesentation Guidelines
Each student will give a 20 minute oral presentation describing 1) a topic or topics from an assigned textbook chapter, 2) a research article referred to in the chapter, or 3) a recent research paper related to the chapter topic. The presentation will be followed by 10 minutes of questions from the audience. Here are instructions and a few and tips to help you prepare your presentation.
- Read the textbook chapter carefully to fully understand your presentation topic. You must become an expert on the topic.
- Figure out the major points of your presentation. What concepts are most important in introducing the topic to the audience? Keep this in mind when organizing your presentation.
- Figure out the major points of your presentation. What concepts are most important in introducing the topic to the audience? Keep this in mind when organizing your presentation.
- Prepare about a 20 min slide presentation. Use Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote for making your presentation. In general, plan to use a slide per minute or two in your presentation; this means that you need about 15 to 20 slides for a 20 min presentation.
- Prepare about a 20 min slide presentation. Use Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote for making your presentation. In general, plan to use a slide per minute or two in your presentation; this means that you need about 15 to 20 slides for a 20 min presentation.
- Prepare about a 20 min slide presentation. Use Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote for making your presentation. In general, plan to use a slide per minute or two in your presentation; this means that you need about 15 to 20 slides for a 20 min presentation.
- Avoid ‘wordy’ slides. Instead, use graphic images (i.e., photographs, drawings, diagrams, charts, etc.) from textbook, articles, or websites (or those created by yourself!!). This helps you explain complex ideas and concepts. Also, use of simple animations may be effective. IMPORTANT: Sources of graphic images, if not your own, must be acknowledged on the slide.
- Include a slide with references at the end of your presentation.
- If you present a research article, you must include slides to explain the following aspects;
- the “big question” being asked in the article;
- research background and history;
- materials and methods being used for experiments and observation;
- data generated;
- conclusions;
- the significance of the paper;
- the major discovery or discoveries and remaining questions;
- ‘take home’ message(s);
- IMPORTANT: Presentation must be submitted by e-mail to the instructor 24 hours before your presentation.
- Submit a 2-3 page summary of your presentation via e-mail within a week after your presentation.
Examples of student presentation
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a. From the class of 2017 (Aliénor Jamet, 19:14)
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b. From the class of 2016 (Masami Hazu, 28:42)
Grading
Grades will be determined by a combination of written examinations, assigned presenations, and attendance & performance (e.g., participation in discussions) in class. Homework, exams and performance will be weighted as follows:
- Presentations (2) 300 pts (150 points each*)
- Midterm (1) 250 pts
- Final (1) 250 pts
- Attendance and performance 200 pts
- Total 1,000 pts
The semester letter grade will then be determined either by an absolute standard or on a curve, whichever benefits the students most at each letter grade cut off:
- S = 90 - 100% of the total points
- A = 80 - 89% of the total points
- B = 70 - 79% of the total points
- C = 60 - 69% of the total points
- F = below 59% of the total points
Criteria for Absent & Fail Grades
No Absent grade will be given in this course. Students who fail to attend 3 or more lectures will immediately get an F (Fail) grade.
Last updated
March 16, 2018