BOT345 Plant Photobiology
Credits (ECTS):10
Course responsible:Sheona Noemi Innes
Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås
Teaching language:Norsk, engelsk
Limits of class size:20
Course frequency:Annually
Nominal workload:250 hours. Structured lectures, colloquia and lab work: ca. 100 hours. Students’ own contributions in the form of colloquia preparation, scientific reading, project design, execution, analysis and writing, studying for the exam: ca. 150 hours.
Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Autumn parallel.
About this course
Plant photobiology will be divided into two aspects:
- The fundamental science of photobiology
- The application of photobiological principles and measurements
The first part of the course will focus on building factual and conceptual knowledge of photobiological principles, including detailed information on photosynthesis, light harvesting, photochemistry and chlorophyll fluorescence. Light sensing by various photoreceptors will be discussed, as well as the downstream effects of different spectral quality, irradiation and photoperiod on plant growth and development.
The second part of the course will focus on building procedural knowledge, wherein the concepts learned in the first part of the course may be applied. The use of photobiological measurements will be investigated as a means of determining plant photosynthetic parameters, as well as stress symptoms. The course gives opportunities to specialise in various aspects of light; in plant production systems and natural ecosystems, including plant-pathogen interactions.
Learning outcome
Knowledge: The students will gain factual and conceptual knowledge on photobiological principles, and the processes involved from light perception to utilisation in photochemistry, light stress mitigation and chlorophyll fluorescence, light reception by different photoreceptors and the way in which they affect plant growth and development. Furthermore, the students will learn how to use this conceptual knowledge in a practical way and be able to i) understand the use of photobiological measurements and how these may be used as indicators of plant status, and ii) understand the different ways in which light may be used in a practical setting, such as in plant production systems.
Skills: The students will learn the use of some advanced equipment for measuring different aspects of light - i.e. light intensity and spectral quality - as well as measuring and using photobiological parameters, such as gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, to assess plant status and responses to different conditions. The students will be able to use the conceptual knowledge learned in order to design and execute their own short-term experiments, as well as collect data, analyse results and present their findings both as a scientific paper and an oral presentation.
- The course will combine lectures, seminars/colloquia, practical lab work and report writing. Theory and concepts will be presented in lectures and discussed in colloquia/seminars together with scientific literature, where the students will play an active role in their own learning. Practical work will have two phases. In the first phase the students will be introduced to use of the photobiological equipment available, and in the second phase the students will complete a group project designed and executed by the students themselves (with help from the teacher). The final element of the course will be the analysis of their project results and presentation thereof in the form of a scientific paper and an oral presentation. The paper will count 40% of the students’ final grade, and the oral presentation is an obligatory activity.
- The teacher(s) will give lectures and facilitate colloquia, as well as play an active role in helping the students design and execute their group projects. Discussion fora on Canvas will provide the students with a platform to ask questions and discuss both with the teacher(s) and each other throughout the semester.
- BIO100, BOT130
- BOT200, KJB100, KJB200
- Written exam (3h) will count 60% of the grade. Group project scientific paper will count 40% of the grade. All of the evaluated elements of the course must be passed to pass the course.
- Examiner will be involved in the evaluation of the written exam and the group project scientific paper.
- Oral presentation of group project.
- The course will be given for the first time in 2024.
- There will be two meetings per week, one of which will be a lecture and the other will be used for either colloquia, project work, seminars or revision.
- Special requirements in Science