Bi0008 Principles of water and nutrient use by plants

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Vít Gloser, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Vít Gloser, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Naděžda Bílá
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of plant physiology a plant anatomy is recommended for this course. Basic knowledge of physics, chemistry and biochemistry is also recommended.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Explain principles of uptake and transport of water mineral nutrients in plants. Show functions of major mineral nutrients. Explain mechanisms of plant response to water limitation. Clarify ways of plant adaptation to limited water and nutrient supply. Explain relationships between productivity of plants and availability of water and mineral nutrients.
Learning outcomes
After finishing this course students are able to: • understand basic principles of water and nutrient availability in soil and its relationship with environmental factors; • explain basic mechanisms of the uptake and transport of water and major mineral nutrients important for plants; • understand basic principles of plant water relations and mechanisms that secure positive water balance of plant under variable environmental conditions; • understand functions of macro- and micronutrients in plant and consequences of their insufficient supply; • explain main stages and physiological consequences of decreasing water availability in soil and describe main types of plant adaptations to dry conditions; • explain, how fertilisation and irrigation practices can be practically used for increasing yields in agriculture.
Syllabus
  • • Nutrient and water availability in soil, transport processes in soil. • Uptake of mineral nutrients and water: principles and mechanisms. • Long distance transport of water and nutrients within plant. • Water balance of the plant and its maintenance. • Nutrient cycling in ecosystems, symbiotic fixation of N2, use and assimilation of inorganic nitrogen ions. • Macronutrients - uptake and physiological importance. • Micronutrients and beneficial elements - uptake and physiological importance. • Plant physiological response to limited water supply. • Plant adaptations to limited water and nutrient supply. • Role of plants in water balance of ecosystem and terrestrial water fluxes. • Impact of water and nutrient availability in agriculture. • Approaches and methods for reduction of drought effects on plants.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • EHLERS, Wilfried and Michael GOSS. Water dynamics in plant production. 2nd edition. Boston: CABI, 2016, xx, 375. ISBN 9781780643823. info
  • KIRKHAM, M. B. Principles of soil and plant water relations. Second edition. Oxford: Academic Press, 2014, xviii, 579. ISBN 9780124200227. info
  • Marschner's mineral nutrition of higher plants. Edited by Petra Marschner. 3rd ed. Amsterdam: Academic Press, 2012, xv, 651. ISBN 9780123849052. info
  • TAIZ, Lincoln and Eduardo ZEIGER. Plant physiology. 5th ed. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates, 2010, xxxiv, 782. ISBN 9780878938667. info
  • NOBEL, Park S. Physicochemical and environmental plant physiology. 4th ed. Amsterdam: Academic Press, 2009, xxi, 582. ISBN 9780123741431. info
  • LAMBERS, Johannes Thieo, F. Stuart CHAPIN and Thijs Leendert PONS. Plant physiological ecology. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: Springer, 2008, xxix, 604. ISBN 9780387783406. info
  • EPSTEIN, Emanuel and Arnold J. BLOOM. Mineral nutrition of plants : principles and perspectives. 2nd ed. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates, 2005, xiv, 400. ISBN 0878931724. info
  • TYREE, Melvin T. and Martin Huldrych ZIMMERMANN. Xylem structure and the ascent of sap. 2nd ed. Berlin: Springer, 2002, xiv, 283. ISBN 3540433546. info
  • BUCHANAN, Bob, Wilhelm GRUISSEM and Russell JONES. Biochemistry & molecular biology of plants. Rockville, Maryland: American society of plant physiologists, 2000, 1367 pp. ISBN 0-943088-39-9. info
Teaching methods
Lectures and class discussion of questions.
Assessment methods
The course is taught every week. Discussion after every lecture. The final exam is oral. Criteria: Exam includes two randomly assigned topics. Final evaluation includes total sum of knowledge for each topic (75%) and links between the topic whole plant functioning in the environment (25%).
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2023/Bi0008