BISC 367 Plant Physiology Lab
Professor: Dr. Stephen Lee
Office: SSB 7107
E-Mail: splee@sfu.caLab instructor: Dr. Mala Fernando
E-Mail: fernando@sfu.ca
General Course Description:
A laboratory study of the physiological and biochemical responses of plants to environmental stress. We will focus on photosynthesis, water relations and mineral nutrition. Both classical and molecular physiological techniques will be used to characterize plant responses to stress.1 lecture hour/week; 1 tutorial hour/week; 4 laboratory hours/week
TOPICS
2. Carbon dioxide gas exchange - Role of light in photosynthetic CO2 fixation and respiration in C3 and C4 plants (2 weeks).
3. Nitrate reductase activity in plants - Effects of nitrate availability and light on nitrate reductase activity in maize.
4. Plant water relations- Effects of various abiotic stresses on a) water potential, b) transpiration rate and c) stomatal density in bean plants.
5. Mineral nutrition - Effects of phosphorous concentration in the growth medium and a metabolic inhibitor on the uptake and transport of inorganic phosphate by maize roots.
6. Developmental and stress-related protein and mRNA changes - Use of
SDS-PAGE and RNA gel blot techniques to resolve biochemical alterations
associated with physiological and developmental.
3 major lab write-ups (20 and 25%) 45%
3 minor lab write-ups (10% ea) 30%
Final exam 25%
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100%