Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities (778-782-3112 or csdo@sfu.ca).
BISC 366
Instructor: Allison Kermode, office: SSB6155, Tel: 291-3982
e-mail: kermode@sfu.ca
Prerequisites: MBB 221 with a grade C- or better
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Plant physiology is all about how plants function and how form is intimately connected to function. Because we cannot cover everything in such a diverse topic we will concentrate on a few aspects of plant physiology that include:
1) Stress physiology. Plants canŐt move but must adjust to a constantly changing environment! To do this, plants have evolved unique mechanisms to cope with a wide range of environmental hazards such as a shortage of water, excessive levels of salts or chemicals in the soil, pathogen attack, and mechanical trauma. Because plants cannot respond to a stressful environment by moving to one that is more benign, they must adapt via dynamic changes in their physiology.
2) Seed Physiology. Seeds control the survival and reproductive capacity of plants. They can be considered to be models of longevity. During their development they undertake various processes to acquire the ability to survive following their dispersal from the parent plant. Some of these processes will be outlined.
3) Hormonal physiology. Plants produce a range of small signaling molecules that mediate developmental changes as well as responses to the environment. We will examine those signals that mediate responses to the environment.
4) Interactions with the light environment. Light is utilized for more than just photosynthesis! We will look at the role of light as an environmental cue plants use to time major developmental events such as flowering.
5) Genetic manipulation of plant traits. Plant biotechnology is all about changing some of the key characteristics of plants to generate superior growth performance or to improve various other traits. This section will introduce students to the latest goals of plant genetic engineering and some of their implications.
Throughout we will examine information uncovered by classic physiological approaches as well as the more recent findings that have emerged through the use of molecular and genetic tools. This is an excellent foundation course that will prepare you for a career in the Plant Sciences in the agricultural, forestry and biotechnology sectors.
Tutorials: will focus on discussing papers relevant to the
lecture material and derived from the recent literature. Tutorial assignments
will include short presentations.
Text:
Required: Plant
Physiology by Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E.,
latest edition, Sinauer Associates Inc.
Grading (tentative): Assignments: 20%
Midterm: 30%
Final: 50%