BOTANICA

Educational Objectives

Knowledge and understanding: The student will be able to: know and 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. Through practical activities in the laboratory, students will be able to acquire the ability to recognize the different plant groups examined.

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 properly 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.

Lectures and laboratory practice. 

Autotrophic prokaryotes - Cyanobacteria. Autotrophic eukaryotes - The plant cell (cell wall, plastids, vacuole). Reproduction in plants - Vegetative reproduction, sporogony, sexual reproduction, life cycles. Fungi - Morphology, reproduction and life cycles; general characteristics of Oomycota, Zygomicota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota. Lichens. Plant and algae organization - Unicellular, colonial, multicellular, thallophytes, cormophytes. Thallophytes – The Algae: cell biology, morphology, reproduction and life cycles of Rhodophyta, Bacillariophyta, Phaeophyta, Chlorophyta. Bryophytes - morphology, reproduction, life cycle, general characteristics of Marchantiophyta, Bryophyta, Anthocerotophyta. Cormophytes - plant tissues: features, functions and location. Plant organs (root, stem, leaf) and their functions. The seedless vascular plants: morphology, reproduction and life cycles, general characteristics of Rhyniophyta, Lycophyta, Sphaenophyta, Pterophyta. Seed plants - General characteristics, male and female reproductive organs, flower and inflorescences, pollination, sexual reproduction, embryo, seed and fruit. Gymnosperms: life cycle, general characteristics of Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Coniferophyta, Gnetophyta. Angiosperms: life cycle.

Ray F. Evert, Susan E. Eichhorn. La biologia delle piante di Raven. Zanichelli. 

Gabriella Pasqua, Giovanna Abbate, Cinzia Forni. Botanica generale e Diversità vegetale. Piccin.

Material provided by the teacher.