Objectives and competences

To interpose fundamental knowledge in botany, plant structure and systematics. To develop the ability of analytical and conclusive thinking. Recognition of the main plant tissues. Knowledge of the vascular plant organ anatomy, primary and secondary structure and organ modifications. Aplication of the botanical basic knowledge in agricultural praxis.

Content (Syllabus outline)

The importance of plant biology in agriculture (American Society of Plant Biologist: Why Study Plants?). Structural organization of higher plants and fungi. I. Meristems: primary, secondary embryogenic tissues. Apical, lateral, traumatic and intercalary meristems. Location of apical and lateral meristems. Development of meristematic tissues. Primary meristems: A) Shoot apical meristem (formation, structure, development, differentiation). B) Root apical meristem. C) Fascicular cambium. D) Pericikel (the formation of lateral roots). E) Meristemoidi. Secondary embryonic tissues: A) The vascular cambium. B) Phellogen. C) Woundmeristem. II. Tissues 1) Parenchyma (structure and shape, type and function, chlorenhyma, specialized parenchyma) 2) Dermal tissue: primary (the epidermis, differentiation, stomata, cuticle, exoderm, endoderm) secondary dermal tissue (periderm). Composite dermal tissue: primary cortex of stems and roots, secondary cortex, tertiary structure 3) Mechanical tissue (collenchyma, sclerenchyma, environmental aspects) 4) Absorption tissue (rhizoderm, mycorrhiza, velamen radicum, water-absorbing hairs, ligula, hyalocyte) 5) vascular tissues (vascular structure, hadrom, leptom, development, types of vessels, stelar theory) 6) secretory structures (terminology, formation, secretory epithelia, shizogene, lizogene canals, ducts and cavities, their importance for plants and humans) III. Plant organs: 1) Root system: function and structure, modes of growth, root tip and gravitropism, taproot system, fibrous root system, adventitious root system, genetics and environmental influences on growth and development, the primary structure of monocot and dicot root, secondary growth, radial transport of water and minerals, modified roots, mycorrhiza, the economic importance of roots, trends in plant science. 2) Stem: stems and their functions, telom theory, the structure of stem, growth forms, branching, control of stem growth (hormonal regulation), the primary stem structure of dicots and monocots, secondary structure, wood anatomy and stages of vascular differentiation, tertiary cortex, modified stems, the economic importance of wood, bark and resin, trends in science. 3) Leaves: formation, the structure of leaves, simple leaves, compound leaves, peltate leaves, leaf shape, leaf edge, leaf vein architecture. Internal structure (bifacial, aequifacial, unifacial, Kranz anatomy). Anatomical and physiological adaptations (xeromorphic,mesomorphic and hydromorphic leaves). Modified leaves, Terminology: anisophylly, heterophylly, gamophylly. Leaf abscission, the economic importance of leaves, trends in science. 4) Reproductive morphology: principles of vegetative and sexual reproduction, flowers of gymnosperms and angiosperms, structure of flowers, types of inflorescences, the basic concepts of sexual reproduction of gymnosperms and angiosperms: micro- and macrogametophyt, pollination, fertilization, seed structure, embryo, fruit types and development. IV) Systematics of angiosperms with emphasis on important agricultural families: floral formula, flower diagram, classification, recent angiosperms' flowers, characteristics of monocots and dicots. Dicots: Papaveraceae, Ranunculaceae, Amaranthaceae Polygonaceae, Vitaceae, Linaceae, Geraniaceae, cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, tree families, Malvaceae, Rutaceae, rubiaceae, Lamiaceae, Oleaceae, Solanaceae, Brassicaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Chicoriaceae. Monocots: Alliaceae, Asparagaceae, Liliaceae, Bromeliaceae, Palms, Poaceae, Zingiberaceae, Musaceae. Alien plants.

Learning and teaching methods

Subject is based on lectures that give basic concept with the help of the audio-visual techniques and sampled plant material. Laboratory and field courses.

Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding

By the end of this course students should be able to: Identify plant tissues and organs. Knowledge of the botanical terminology. Explain and understand the basic concepts of the sexual reproduction of angiosperms and gymnosperms. Understand the differences in flower structure, the evolutionary concepts of flower morphology and coevolution with pollinators. Classification of important agricultural plants into plant families.

Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes

Readings

• Stützel T. 2015. Botanische Bestimmungsübungen.3. Aufl., Ulmer, Stuttgart. • Batič F. in sod. 2011. Botanični terminološki slovar, ZRC SAZU, 1.izd., Ljubljana. • M. Dermastia 2010. Pogled v rastline. Nacionalni inštitut za biologijo, 2.izd., Ljubljana. • Bresinsky A. in sod., 2008. Strasburger – Lehrbuch der Botanik,36. Aufl. Spektrum. Heidelberg. • Nabors M. W., 2004. Introduction to botany. Cummings. • B. Krajnčič, 2001. Botanika, Razvojna in funkcionalna morfologija z anatomijo, Fakulteta za kmetijstvo in biosistemske vede, 1.izdaja, Maribor.

Prerequisits

None.