Botany 780  Plant Metabolism / Stress Physiology

Spring Semester, 2005

 

Marc D. Anderson

Stevens 323

231-6488

Marc.Anderson@ndsu.edu

 

Class Meetings:            Monday 12:30-1:45, Wednesday 4:00-5:15, Stevens 329

Prerequisites:              Botany 380, Biochemistry 460, or equivalent

Text:                            Buchanan BB, Gruissem W, Jones RL (2000) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants.  Am Soc Plant Biologists, Rockville, MD

 

Course Objectives:  Botany 780 is a course intended to provide a detailed overview of metabolic processes in plants, with attention given to the continual metabolic adjustments that occur in plants according to the environmental conditions to which they are exposed.  The focus will be on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism under normal conditions and how metabolism changes when plants are exposed to various stresses.  An additional goal is that lecture topics serve the individual interests of the students, where attention will be given to selected topics and presented within the context of plant metabolism.

 

Format:  The course will consist of two 75-min lectures each week.  Students are encouraged to offer questions or comments at any time during the lecture.  During an initial organizational meeting, students will have an opportunity to discuss their research and other interests and class time will be allotted to address student-selected topics, ideally as they relate to core topics (listed below).  Two class periods will be reserved for a student-centered activity in which students will design a crop plant with a prescribed phenotype.  The product of this exercise will be a short group paper.  Students will also be responsible for selecting a topic within the context of plant metabolism and for delivering a 30 minute presentation at assigned dates at the end of the semester.

 

Lecture Topics:


Core Topics

Photosynthesis – Ch. 12

Carbohydrate Metabolism – Ch. 13

Respiration & Photorespiration – Ch. 14

Lipid Metabolism – Ch. 10

Secondary Metabolism – Ch. 24

Biotic Stresses – Ch. 21

Pathogens, some insects

Abiotic Stresses – Ch. 22

Cold, light, water

Additional Possibilities

Gene Expression & Signal Transduction

Protein Synthesis & Protein Sorting

Cell Cycle / Tissue Growth

Senescence

Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen Assimilation / Amino Acids

Mineral Nutrient Uptake and Utilization

Additional Stresses

Pollutants, heat, salt, more insects

Other topics


 

Grading:  There will be three exams during the semester that will cover the topics presented in lecture.  Exams will be predominantly of an essay and short answer format and will be worth 100 points each.  The group paper will be worth 50 points (all students within each group receiving the same score) and presentations will be 50 points.  Grades will be assigned according to the standard grading scale:

> 90 = “A”, 80 - 89.9 = “B”, 70 - 79.9 = “C”, 60 - 69.9 = “D”, < 60 = “F”. 

 

Special Needs:  Any students who need special accommodations for learning or who have special needs are invited to share these concerns and requests with the instructor as soon as possible.

 

Academic Responsibility:  All work in this course must be completed in a manner consistent with NDSU University Senate Policy, section 335:  Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct (http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/335.htm).


Botany 780  Plant Metabolism / Stress Physiology

 

Tentative Class Schedule

 

Core Topics

Photosynthesis, Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism, Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

 

Additional Topics Selected According to Student Interests

Effects of stress on cell division, growth, and differentiation; Seed maturation (including formation of oil bodies) and germination; Plant reactions to pollutants

 

  January 11      T       Introduction / Organizational Meeting

                 13      R      Photosynthesis Overview / Light Absorption

                 17      M      ML King Holiday – No Class

                 19      W     Photosynthetic Electron Transport / ATP Synthesis

                 24      M      Carbon Fixation / Rubisco

                 26      W     Calvin Cycle Regulation / Hexose Phosphates

                 31      M      Starch & Sucrose Synthesis

  February 2      W     Starch & Sucrose Synthesis

                   7      M      Starch & Sucrose Catabolism                                         Material for Exam I

                   9      W     Glycolysis & Oxidative Pentose Phosphate Pathway

                 14      M      Exam I

                 16      W     TCA Cycle, Regulation of Respiration

                 21      M      President’s Day – No Class

                 23      W     Fatty Acid Synthesis & Metabolism

                 28      M      Fatty Acid Metabolism / Oil Body Formation

       March 2      W     Fatty Acid Catabolism / Gluconeogenesis

                   7      M      Student Discussion – Plant Engineering Problem

                   9      W     Seed Maturation & Germination                                     Material for Exam II

                 14      M      Spring Break – No Class

                 16      W     Spring Break – No Class

                 21      M      Student Discussion – Plant Engineering Problem

                 23      W     Exam II

                 28      M      Easter Holiday – No Class

                 30      W     Secondary Metabolism –  Isoprenoids, Phenolics, and Alkaloids

          April 4      M      Response of Plants to Pathogens

                   6      W     Response of Plants to Pathogens

                 11      M      Responses to Abiotic Sress – cold, drought – Paper Due

                 13      W     Responses to Abiotic Sress – oxidative stress, pollutants

                 18      M      Cell division, growth, differentiation – influence of stress

                 20      W     Catch up

                 25      M      Student Presentations

                 27      W     Student Presentations

           May 2      M      Student Presentations

                   4      W     Student Presentations

                 10      T       Exam III  10:30 AM – 12:30 PM