BOTN30140 Experimental Plant Physiology

Academic Year 2021/2022

This module focuses on the experimental aspect of Plant Physiology. We run ten labs, which are related to the growth, mineral nutrition and also stress responses of plants.
The first half of the module focuses on mineral nutrition, and we carry out one larger experiment on the mineral nutrition (nitrogen, potassium) of barley plants, where we do a range of analyses in successive weeks. These analyses include enzymatic measurements, fresh and dry weight determination, leaf and root surface area determination, transpiration and stomatal density analyses, root anatomical analyses, osmotic pressure analyses, and plant pigment analyses; possibly also (depending on availability of equipment) measurement of net rates of photosynthesis. The purpose of the lectures is primarily to introduce the theoretical background, content and rationale of labs.
The second half of the module follows a very similar setup, except that the topic is not mineral nutrition but salt stress.
Part-1: Plants respond at various levels of organisation (root, leaf, cells) to a limitation in the supply of key mineral nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium. For example, the ratio of root to shoot changes, as does the water flow through plants, the net rate of photosynthesis and plant productivity. Enzymes such as nitrate reductase, which use nitrate as substrate, also change in their activity, and even anatomical changes can be observed at root level. The aim is to follow up these changes on hydroponically-grown barley plants which are exposed to various regimes of N, K, P and Mg nutrition. Part 1 is designed as one larger experiment, with different types of analyses in successive weeks.
Part-2. Soil salinity is a major constraint to crop productivity worldwide. Plants respond to salinity stress in different phases, a short-term response and a long-term response that occurs due to the accumulation to toxic levels of sodium and chloride in the shoot. The experimental component of part 2 includes the exposure of hydroponically-grown barley plants to various regimes of NaCl and their assessment of stress tolerance using physiological methods including biomass data collection, chlorophyll content, etc. Part 2 is designed as one larger experiment, with different types of analyses in successive weeks, while discussing ways to present data results (e.g. use of stress indices).

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
- Understand the importance of mineral nutrients and their assimilation for plant growth and development;
- Understand the complexity of response of plants to stress, particularly salt stress;
- Describe the major nutrients required by plants;
- Understand the role of photosynthetic reactions in nutrient assimilation;
- Summarise and analyse data on a larger experiment and present the outcome through an oral group presentation;
- Relate contents of lectures to practical class material;
- Be able to apply some basic and advanced techniques in the area of plant physiology.

Indicative Module Content:

Plant
- Growth
- Development
- Mineral nutrition
- Salt stress
- Analysing techniques
- Data Handling

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12

Practical

36

Specified Learning Activities

10

Autonomous Student Learning

67

Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
lectures and labs

- interactive
- problem-solved
- feedback
- enjoy 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Level 2 module: Principles of Plant Biology (BOTN 20040)


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Group presentation (Powerpoint) of the outcome of labs run in Part-1 of module (mineral nutrition) Week 6 n/a Graded No

50

Examination: This examination is run as part of the UCD-central exams in May and involves MCQs and short-answer questions which relate to the lecture and lab material of Part-2 of module (salt stress) 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

50


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback/Discussions during lectures/labs and on final report; interactive throughout

Name Role
Dr Sonia Negrao Lecturer / Co-Lecturer