Program

Articulation and contents of the course (study program):
The course is divided into two parts:

-Part of Plant Biology (5 + 1 CFU)
Plant organisms
The notion of plant organism. Biodiversity. Plants and man: ecological, economic and social aspects
The plant cell
The cell wall: biosynthesis, structure, chemical composition and function.
The cytoplasmic membrane: structure, chemical composition and function.
The nucleus and the nucleolus. Mitochondria, microcorps, dictiosomes. The plastids. Chloroplast: structural and functional aspects. Photosynthesis. Physiological aspects of the photosynthesis process. The cytoskeleton: microtubules, microfilaments, associated structural proteins and molecular motors. Peculiar aspects of the cell division process: the preprophasic band, the mitotic spindle, the fragmoplast.
Plants: structure and function
Vegetable fabrics. Primary and secondary meristematic tissues. Fundamental, supportive, integumental, absorption, secretory and conductive tissues.
The root: functions of the root, primary and secondary structure, lateral and adventitious roots; absorption of water and minerals. The transport of raw sap.
The stem: functions of the stem, primary structure in monocotyledons and dicotyledons; vascular crib change, secondary structure; cork, phellogen and phelloderma.
The leaf: form, structure and function; epidermis, mesophyll, conductive bundles; the stoma: anatomy and stomatal mechanism. The transport of the processed sap.
The flower: the gynaeceum and the androceum. The pollination.
The fruit: development of the embryo; endosperm; fruit development.
The seed: structural aspects; dissemination.
Elements of classification of plants.
-Part of Introduction to Plant Biotechnology (3CFU)
What are Biotechnologies.
The old biotechnologies for food production, the
hydroponic crops, plant cell cultures.
The Green Revolution of the 50s-70s of the last century.
Biotechnology from transformed plants and from untransformed plants.
Current applications of Plant Biotechnology:
Plant Biotechnology for quality improvement of food
Applications of hydroponic crops
Plants processed for environmental purposes
Molecular Farming
Vaccine plants
The plantibodies
Plants for the production of BioMasse
Plants for the production of biofuels and bioplastics
Bioactive molecules of plant origin for the production of drugs.
Considerations: Plant Biotechnology and their impact on society. Positive and negative effects in economic, employment, environmental and health terms.

Referral texts for Plant Biology:
- Pasqua G., Abbate G., Forni C., Botanica Generale e Diversità Vegetale, Piccin Editore, Padova.
- Mauseth J.D.,, II° edizione italiana, Botanica (parte generale), Idelson Gnocchi Editori, Napoli.
- Rost T.L., Barbour M.G., Stocking C.R., Murphy T.M., I° edizione italiana, Biologia delle piante,
Zanichelli Editore, Bologna.

Referral texts for Introduction to Plant Biotecnology:
- Tiezzi A. Biotecnologie Vegetali, il futuro che viene da lontano. Argomenti per una riflessione”. Casa Editrice Aracne, Roma, 2011.
- Tiezzi A. Dispensa "La Scienza ci dice....", 2021.

The teacher makes available all the slides shown during the course.