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TEACHING: ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
LECTURE |
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ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY LECTURE
Environmental Plant Physiology provides a link between the
cellular and biochemical analysis in plant physiology and more applied
aspects of plant growth. Environmental Plant Physiologists examine the ways that
physiological processes are integrated to cause whole plant responses
in communities. The subject matter is related to Plant Ecology and
Stress Physiology. The basic concepts and approaches are applicable to
all types of plants, from petunias to potatoes to plums; grown in pots
or in soil, in greenhouses or in the field.
Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between environmental
parameters (radiation, temperature, water, nutrients), and their
effect on physiological processes (photosynthesis, respiration), and
plant responses (leaf expansion, partitioning of dry mass, water
status, and transpiration). We will examine the integration of these
plant responses into models that help to better understand and predict
growth and yield.
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EXAMPLE SCHEDULE FROM 2002
JANUARY
12 Course Overview:
Quantifying Responses
14 Leaf Energy Balance: Types
of Radiation
19 Leaf Energy Balance:
Radiation absorption
21 Leaf Energy Balance:
Transpiration
26 Energy balance: Conduction
and convection
28 Plant Growth Analysis:
Individual Plants
FEBRUARY
02 Plant Growth Analysis:
Relative Growth Rate
04 Plant Growth Analysis:
Plant Communities
09 Plant Growth Analysis and
Canopy Geometry
11 IN CLASS EXAM: Radiation &
Growth Analysis
16 Canopy Photosynthesis:
Radiation Absorption
18 Canopy Photosynthesis:
Radiation Attenuation
23 Canopy Photosynthesis:
Radiation Attenuation
25 Photosynthetic Efficiency
Energy Conversion in Photosynthesis
MARCH
01 Photosynthetic Efficiency
03 C3/C4/CAM
Characteristics in Crop Plants
08 Water Use Efficiency:
Stomatal Control
10 Maintenance and Growth
Respiration
13 - 17 Spring Break
22 Maintenance and Growth
Respiration Respiration
24 Phloem Transport: Driving
gradients
29 Assimilate Partitioning:
Source-Sink Relationships Energy Partitioning
31 Assimilate Partitioning:
Source-Sink Relationships to Seeds
APRIL
05 Phloem Transport
(TAKE HOME MIDTERM - 24 hours- due Thursday at noon)
07 Nitrogen: Uptake,
Translocation, Assimilation
12 Nitrogen
14 Stress Physiology: Water
19 Absorption Capacity of Root
systems
21 Stress Physiology -
Temperature
26 Post-Harvest Physiology and
Chilling Injury
28 Photobiology: Plant
Response to Light Quality
MAY
5 COMPREHENSIVE
FINAL EXAM: 9:30 am - 11:20 am
REQUIRED TEXT
Crop Physiology (Selected readings from 7 textbooks).
Purchase from Copy Center in BNR Building (about $30)
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT (not required)
Plant Physiology by Taiz and Zeiger - 2002
USEFUL REFERENCE BOOKS
1. Physiology of Crop Plants
Gardner, Pearce and Mitchell
- 1985
2. Basic Growth Analysis
Roderick Hunt
- 1990
3. Plant Growth Analysis
Roderick Hunt - 1981
4. Plant Growth and Development
Leopold and Kridemann
- 1975
5. Physicochemical and Environmental Plant Physiology
Park
Nobel - 1991
6. Environmental Physiology of Plants, 2nd ed.
Fitter and
Hay - 1987
7. Respiration and Crop Productivity
Jeffrey Amthor
- 1989
8. Plant Physiology, 4th ed.
Salisbury and Ross
- 1985
9. An Introduction to the Physiology of Crop Yield
Hay and Walker - 1990
10. Plants and Microclimate, 2nd ed.
Hamlyn
Jones - 1992
11. Plant Roots: The Hidden Half. 2nd ed.
Waisel, et al.
- 1996
12. Environmental Soil Physics
Hillel
- 1998
13. Physiology and the Determination of Crop Yield
Boote, Am. Soc. Agronomy
- 1994
COURSE OUTLINE
I. Introduction
A. Quantitative Biology and crop modeling.
II. Growth and Development
A. Dynamic relationships between growth and yield
B. Analysis of growth in single plants
1. Relative growth rate
2. Net assimilation rate
3. Leaf Area ratio
C. Analysis of crop growth in communities
1. Crop growth rate
2. Leaf area index
3. Plant geometry - leaf angle and orientation
D. Analysis of reproductive growth
1. Harvest index
2. Source-sink relationships
3. Yield components
III. Photosynthesis
A. Theoretical maximum efficiency and actual efficiency
Quantum requirement and quantum yield
B. Factors limiting photosynthesis in the field
C. The relationship between photosynthesis and yield
D. Feedback inhibition of photosynthesis
Translocation and partitioning
IV. Respiration Efficiency
A. The different types of respiration:
mitochondrial
respiration
alternative pathway respiration
photorespiration
B. Growth and maintenance respiration
C. Determining
respiration efficiency
V. Nitrogen
A. Uptake, assimilation, and translocation of ammonium and
nitrate nitrogen
VI. Stress Physiology
A. Crop water relationships
1. Evapotranspiration concepts and measurements
2. Water stress and yield
B. Temperature stress - freezing tolerance and chilling
injury
DISCUSSION OF GRADING
Crop Physiology is both quantitative and conceptual. Exams will
aspire to test conceptual understanding. There will be an in-class
midterm, a take-home midterm, and an in-class final. Some of the
questions on the exams will require calculations so bring a
calculator to the exams. One page of notes (both sides of the
page) will be allowed for reference information and equations
during in-class exams.
I am strict in evaluating test answers because I think there
should be little doubt about the appropriate discussion of
principles. If your answer is not clear, you lose points. People
also lose points by writing long answers that do not address the
question.
Old tests will be on reserve in the library. The underlying basis
for testing and grading is to stimulate a thorough understanding
of the subject matter without intimidating or discouraging
interested students. Every effort will be made to help serious
students learn the material.
GRADING DISTRIBUTION
Computer modeling
assignments 10%
In-Class Midterm 20%
Take-Home Midterm 30%
Comprehensive Final Exam 40%
TOTAL 100%
If a
student has a disability that will likely require some
accommodation by the instructor, the student must contact the
instructor and document the disability through the Disability
Resource Center. In cooperation with the Disability Resource
Center, course material may be provided in alternative formats.
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