250030 Plant Ecophysiology

Details
Department of Agricultural Sciences   80 %
Department of Plant Biology   20 %
Earliest Possible YearBSc. 2 year to MSc. 2 year
DurationOne block
 
Credits7.5 (ECTS)
Course LevelJoint BSc and MSc
 
ExaminationContinuous Assessment

written examination


All aids allowed

Description of Examination: 3individual multiple choice tests distributed over the course and a final individual case report.

Weight: Three individual multiple choice tests: 45%(15% each) Final case report: 55%



7-point scale, internal examiner
 
Requirement For Attending ExamEvaluation of one group-based essay based on experimental exercises
 
Organisation of Teaching50% lectures and 50% problem solution, cases and laboratory work. Cases in project groups characterised by choice of ecosystem or species (forest, horticulture or agriculture). Excursion.
 
Block PlacementBlock 4
Week Structure: B
 
Teaching LanguageEnglish
 
RestrictionsNone
 
Areas of Competence the Course Will Address
Basic Science: Fundamental knowledge of the impact of the environment on plant functioning and adaptation at various levels of integration from the molecular, biochemical and physiological level to a whole plant level. Knowledge of and experience with laboratory and field techniques used in plant ecophysiological research.

Applied Science: Ability to understand how variations in natural growth factors and anthropogenic management factors affect the growth and productivity of different plant species used in horticulture, agriculture and forestry. Ability to use, transfer, evaluate and make judgment of strategies for improvement of plant tolerance towards adverse soil and climatic conditions by breeding and biotechnology.

Ethics and values: Ability to analyse and react on problems related to plant growth and biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems caused by changes in climate, soil conditions and exposure to anthroponenic pollutants.
 
Course Objectives
To develop and apply plant physiological principles to plant growth and resource utilization in cultivated and natural terrestrial eco-systems. The impact of changes in the environment on plant functioning will be assessed and the concept of biological stress used to understand mechanisms involved in plant adaptation to adverse soil and climatic conditions. The direct and indirect aspects of anthropogenic pollution will be treated in relation to impacts on plant physiological processes.
 
Course Contents
Key themes include:

1. Assessment and analysis of plant growth and carbon partitioning, the interactions of internal and external factors in determining photosynthetic efficiency and the seasonal control of growth and development.

2. Ecophysiologically based classification of species and ecotypes according to distribution in soils.

3. The functional properties of inorganic elements in plants with respect to growth, reproduction and survival in different environments.

4. Plant adaptation to changing climatic conditions such as increased CO2, extreme temperatures, drought, UV radiation and ozone.

5. Plant adaptation to adverse soil conditions: deficiencies and toxicities of mineral nutrients, salinity, acidity, alkalinity, drought and heavy metals.

6. Diagnosis of nutritional disorders and other abiotic stress responses.

7. The genetic and molecular basis for that some plant species, genotypes and ecotypes are more tolerant towards abiotic stress than others.

8. Plant-soil interactions (rhizosphere processes)

9. The use of plants for cleaning of soils polluted with heavy metals and other xenobiotics (phytoremediation).
 
Teaching And Learning Methods
The teaching consists of 50% lectures and 50% will be used for problem solution and cases. The case work will be carried out in project groups within different areas of plant ecophysiology characterised by choice of ecosystem or species (terrestrial ecosystem, forest, horticulture, agriculture boreal or others). The problem solution work will consist of theory (mindmaps) and hands on laboratory work dealing with key experimental techniques for measurement of plant ecophysiological processes and diagnosis of abiotic stress.
 
Learning Outcome
Stipulated in "Areas of Competence the Course Will Address"
 
Course Coordinator
Jan Kofod Schjørring, jks@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 35333495
Søren Husted, shu@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 35333498
Bjarke Veierskov, bv@life.ku.dk, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology/Plant Physiology and Anatomy Laboratory, Phone: 35333328
Dan Bruhn, dbr@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 3528
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Course Scope
lectures20
theoretical exercises32
practicals16
project work62
Excursions4
preparation72

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