BOTANY 2

Educational Objectives

Knowledge and understanding: The student will be able to: know/understand the basic concepts of Taxonomy and Systematics and the methods of recognition of plant taxa; develop basic knowledge relating to the different groups of plants and fungi, considered as part of the evolutionary process; understand the morphological, physiological and ecological peculiarities of plant organisms and the main phylogenetic relationships between them; know the mechanisms of development and organization of plant organisms and fungi, the methods of reproduction; understand the meaning and value of biodiversity.

Ability to apply knowledge: Students will be able to apply basic knowledge of botany, in order to understand the structure-function relationship and the connection with the environment. They will acquire the ability to analyze biodiversity and also evaluate issues of global interest connected to climate change, the invasion of alien species, the exploitation of natural resources. In particular, they will be able to compare the reproductive cycles of the main taxonomic groups of plants, describe the structure and functions of the reproductive organs of Spermatophytes, distinguish the main taxonomic groups of the plant kingdom, identify the most representative families of the Italian flora. Through field activities and the creation of a herbarium, students will be able to acquire the ability to use dichotomous keys for the identification and classification of vascular plants.

Autonomy of judgment: students of the course will acquire an autonomy of judgment in the evaluation and interpretation of the knowledge acquired which is expressed in the ability to understand plant diversity in an evolutionary key.

Communication skills: students will be able to clearly and correctly explain the skills acquired, using a useful bibliography to communicate specific knowledge, using the appropriate scientific terminology. The student must acquire an appropriate technical vocabulary and correct botanical terminology, such as to allow effective and qualified communication.

Learning skills: students will have the opportunity to learn a study method and organize the work to be done. They will be able to independently expand the skills acquired during the course, through access to bibliographic resources and other tools available online, to understand and transmit them. The acquisition of these skills will enable them to update their knowledge and independently face subsequent levels of learning to be exploited also in the preparation of the final exam.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

The Botany course is divided into two modules. Module I (3 ECTS) provides preliminary and general knowledge on plant biology; Module II (6 ECTS) is dedicated to the study of plant biodiversity.

Module I

Prokaryotes and autotrophic eukaryotes. Structural levels and ways of nutrition (parasitic organisms, saprotrophs and symbionts). Notes on chlorophyll photosynthesis. Role of plants in the biosphere. General characteristics of the eukaryotic plant cell. The different degrees of structural organization (thallus, corm). Vegetative reproduction, sporogony, sexual reproduction. Mode and meaning of the different types of reproduction. Ontogenetic cycles and metagenetic cycles and their evolutionary significance. Systematics, Taxonomy and Botanical Nomenclature. Photoautotrophic prokaryotes. The Cyanobacteria.

Module II

Fungi: thallus morphology, reproduction, trophism, ecology and main biological cycles (Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota). The heterotrophic protists: Oomycota. Algae: thallus organization, reproduction and main biological cycles (Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, Bacillariophyta). The conquest of land: causes, theories, adaptations to terrestrial life. Non-vascular cryptogams (bryophytes): morphology, reproduction and life cycle; the main groups (Bryophyta, Marchantiophyta, Anthocerotophyta). Vascular cryptogams (pteridophytes): vegetative and reproductive characters, biological cycle; isospory and heterospory; the main groups (Rhiniophyta, Lycophyta, Psilotophyta, Sphenophyta, Pterophyta). Spermatophytes: reproductive systems, pollination and fertilization, ovule and seed. Gymnosperms: vegetative and reproductive systems, biological cycle; the main groups (Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Conipherophyta, Gnetophyta). Angiosperms: vegetative and reproductive characters, flower and inflorescences, pollination and fecundation, seed, fruits and infructescences, dissemination. Distinctive features of the main families. Floristic sampling and analytical keys. Herbarium. Elements of phytogeography

1. Ray F Evert & Susan E Eichhorn 2013. Biologia delle piante di Raven. Zanichelli

2. Gabriella Pasqua, Giovanna Abbate, Cinzia Forni 2019. Botanica Generale e Diversità Vegetale. Piccin