Agricultural Biochemistry and Physiology of Medicinal Plants
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The teaching aims to provide students with basic knowledge of the main biochemical and physiological processes in higher plants, addressing aspects related to plant primary and secondary metabolism, to plant physiology and to plant-environment interactions. These topics are discussed in relation to the productivity and quality of medicinal plants.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the teaching, students will have to know the fundamental biochemical processes related to plant physiology and to adaptation of plant to the environment. Students will have to be able to recognize the main agro-environmental factors that determine plant productivity, and to understand how these factors can influence the content of metabolites of interest in medicinal plants. Students will have to acquire basic criteria for evaluating the sustainability of production and the quality of medicinal plants.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
WATER AND SOLUTE TRANSPORT IN PLANT (1 CFU) - The chemo-physical properties of water. The cell water potential and cell-water relations in plant. Water balance in plants. Water in soil. Water uptake by roots. Water transport through the xylem. Leaf transpiration. Plant mineral nutrition. Macro- and micro- nutrients. The concept of rhizosphere and the soil-plant-microorganism interactions. The chemical potential and the active and passive transport of solutes. The plant cell membrane potential. Transport systems: pumps, channels and carriers. The kinetic properties of transport systems.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN HIGHER PLANTS (1.25 CFU) - The properties of light. Photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic light reactions. The organization of the photosynthetic apparatus. The electron and proton transfer systems: the roles of photosystems II and I, the cytochrome b6f complex, the cycle of the ubiquinone pool. Photophosphorylation. The Calvin cycle and its regulation. The synthesis of starch and sucrose. Photorespiration. The C4 carbon cycle and the crassulacean acid metabolism. Plant adaptation to light conditions. The responses to oxidative stress in chloroplasts. Case studies regarding environmental effects on production and quality of medicinal plants.
PLANT NUTRITIONAL STATUS: PHOTOSYNTHATE DISTRIBUTION AND ASSIMILATION OF MINERAL NUTRIENTS (1.25 CFU) - Sink-source relations in plant organs. Phloem translocation: characteristics and the mechanisms of loading and unloading. The biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen. Nitrate reduction and ammonium assimilation. Case studies regarding nitrogen nutrition in medicinal plants. Biological nitrogen fixation. Sulfur assimilation. Iron acquisition. Summary of the peculiarities of respiratory metabolism in plants. Summary of amino acid metabolism in plants. Biochemical roles of cysteine, methionine and glutathione. The shikimate pathway.
SEED, PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS AND PLANT RESPONSES TO SUN LIGHT (0.50 CFU) - Seed: characteristics, germination and utilization of reserves. Plant responses to red-light: phytochromes. Plant responses to blue-light. Stomatal opening. The concept of photoperiod and the flowering control.
PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS (0.75 CFU) - Main concepts about plant hormones. Auxin: transport, actions and effects on plant development. Gibberellins: effects on plant growth and development and on seed germination. Cytokinins: regulators of cell proliferation. Ethylene: roles in foliar abscission and in fruit ripening. Abscisic acid: roles in plant responses to drought stress and in seed maturation.
PLANT SECONDARY METABOLISM (1.25 CFU) - Eco-physiological aspects of secondary metabolism: defence and communication. Biosynthetic pathways and physiological functions of terpenes. Biosynthesis and physiological roles of phenolic compounds (simple phenols, lignin, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins and stilbenes). Biosynthesis and physiological roles of nitrogen-containing secondary compounds (alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates, and nonprotein amino acids). Experimental strategies to improve secondary metabolite production.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN HIGHER PLANTS (1.25 CFU) - The properties of light. Photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic light reactions. The organization of the photosynthetic apparatus. The electron and proton transfer systems: the roles of photosystems II and I, the cytochrome b6f complex, the cycle of the ubiquinone pool. Photophosphorylation. The Calvin cycle and its regulation. The synthesis of starch and sucrose. Photorespiration. The C4 carbon cycle and the crassulacean acid metabolism. Plant adaptation to light conditions. The responses to oxidative stress in chloroplasts. Case studies regarding environmental effects on production and quality of medicinal plants.
PLANT NUTRITIONAL STATUS: PHOTOSYNTHATE DISTRIBUTION AND ASSIMILATION OF MINERAL NUTRIENTS (1.25 CFU) - Sink-source relations in plant organs. Phloem translocation: characteristics and the mechanisms of loading and unloading. The biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen. Nitrate reduction and ammonium assimilation. Case studies regarding nitrogen nutrition in medicinal plants. Biological nitrogen fixation. Sulfur assimilation. Iron acquisition. Summary of the peculiarities of respiratory metabolism in plants. Summary of amino acid metabolism in plants. Biochemical roles of cysteine, methionine and glutathione. The shikimate pathway.
SEED, PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS AND PLANT RESPONSES TO SUN LIGHT (0.50 CFU) - Seed: characteristics, germination and utilization of reserves. Plant responses to red-light: phytochromes. Plant responses to blue-light. Stomatal opening. The concept of photoperiod and the flowering control.
PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS (0.75 CFU) - Main concepts about plant hormones. Auxin: transport, actions and effects on plant development. Gibberellins: effects on plant growth and development and on seed germination. Cytokinins: regulators of cell proliferation. Ethylene: roles in foliar abscission and in fruit ripening. Abscisic acid: roles in plant responses to drought stress and in seed maturation.
PLANT SECONDARY METABOLISM (1.25 CFU) - Eco-physiological aspects of secondary metabolism: defence and communication. Biosynthetic pathways and physiological functions of terpenes. Biosynthesis and physiological roles of phenolic compounds (simple phenols, lignin, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins and stilbenes). Biosynthesis and physiological roles of nitrogen-containing secondary compounds (alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates, and nonprotein amino acids). Experimental strategies to improve secondary metabolite production.
Prerequisites for admission
Mandatory prescribed foundation courses: General and inorganic chemistry, Plant biology and pharmaceutical botany, Organic chemistry
Recommended courses: Biochemistry and human nutrition, Chemistry of natural organic compounds and foods.
Recommended courses: Biochemistry and human nutrition, Chemistry of natural organic compounds and foods.
Teaching methods
Classroom lectures. The attendance is not mandatory (but recommended). For students not attending the program and materials are the same.
Teaching Resources
Lecture slides will be provided on Ariel platform. Moreover, it is strongly recommended to study the following books: "Elementi di fisiologia vegetale - Taiz (Ed. PICCIN)" or alternatively "Elementi di fisiologia vegetale - Rascio (Ed. EdiSES)".
Further optional readings: "Fisiologia vegetale - (Ed. PICCIN)" e "Produzione ed impiego delle piante officinali (Pàtron Editore)".
Further optional readings: "Fisiologia vegetale - (Ed. PICCIN)" e "Produzione ed impiego delle piante officinali (Pàtron Editore)".
Assessment methods and Criteria
Student learning is evaluated via of an oral interview, through 4-6 questions on different topics of the course. The exam aims to evaluate: the attainment of expected learning outcomes; the student's ability to articulate ideas; proficiency in specific terminology; and the student's capacity to apply knowledge in hypothetical scenarios.
Grades are awarded on a scale of thirty (30/30).
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
Grades are awarded on a scale of thirty (30/30).
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment. Please request by email.
At the office. Bldg. 21090, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Milano. Alternatively, online on the Teams platform.