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.

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.

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