| Responsible Department | Department of Agriculture and Ecology
80 % Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology 20 % | ||||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | BSc. 2 year to MSc. 2 year | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||||
| Level of Course | Joint BSc and MSc | ||||||||||||||||
| Examination | Continuous Assessment written examination Some Aid allowed Scientific papers for individual essay Description of Examination: Three individual multiple choice tests distributed over the course and an individual case report. Weight: Three individual multiple choice tests: 45% (15% each) Case report: 55% 7-point scale, internal examiner | ||||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Lectures and problem solution, cases and laboratory work. Individual cases characterised by choice of ecosystem or species (forest, horticulture or agriculture). | ||||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 4 Week Structure: B | ||||||||||||||||
| Language of Instruction | English | ||||||||||||||||
| Restrictions | None | ||||||||||||||||
| Course Content | |||||||||||||||||
| 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. The functional roles of inorganic elements in plants with respect to growth, reproduction and survival in different environments. 3. Plant adaptation and acclimation to changing climatic conditions such as increased CO2, extreme temperatures, drought, UV radiation and ozone. 4. Plant adaptation and acclimation to adverse soil conditions: deficiencies and toxicities of mineral nutrients, salinity, acidity, alkalinity, drought and heavy metals. 5. The genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in adaptation and acclimation to abiotic stresses. 6. Plant-soil interactions (rhizosphere processes). | |||||||||||||||||
| Teaching and learning Methods | |||||||||||||||||
| The teaching consists of lectures, problem solution and cases. The problem solution work will be carried out in groups and consists of theory (mindmaps) and hands on laboratory work dealing with key experimental techniques for measurement of plant ecophysiological processes and diagnosis of abiotic stress. The problem solution results in a group report. The case work will be carried out individually within different areas of plant ecophysiology characterised by choice of ecosystem or species (terrestrial ecosystem, forest, horticulture, agriculture boreal or others) and end with an individual essay. | |||||||||||||||||
| Learning Outcome | |||||||||||||||||
| The main objective of the course is: . To develop and apply plant physiological principles to plant growth and resource utilization in cultivated and natural terrestrial eco-systems. . To assess the impact of changes in the environment on plant functioning and to use the concept of biological stress to understand mechanisms involved in plant acclimation to adverse climatic conditions. . To asses the impact of soil management on plant production. . To focus on the direct and indirect aspects of anthropogenic pollution in relation to impacts on plant physiological processes. After completing the course the student should be able to: Knowledge: . Describe the impact of the environment on plant functioning and acclimation at various levels of integration from the molecular, biochemical and physiological level to a whole plant level. . Refer to laboratory and field techniques used in plant ecophysiological research. Skills: . Apply laboratory and field techniques used in plant ecophysiological research. . Explain 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. Competences: . Analyse and react on problems related to plant growth and biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems caused by changes in climate, soil conditioning and exposure to anthropogenic pollutants. . Use, transfer, evaluate and judge strategies for improvement of plant tolerance towards adverse soil and climatic conditions by breeding and biotechnology. | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Literature | |||||||||||||||||
| Handouts of scientific papers | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Paul Jahn, tpj@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 353-33484 | |||||||||||||||||
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