BOT345 Plant Photobiology

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Sheona 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:

  1. Light as an energy source
  2. Light as a signal

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. The use of photobiological measurements will be investigated as a means of determining plant photosynthetic parameters, as well as stress symptoms.

The second part of the course will expand on the role of light in plant growth, focusing on light as a signal. 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.

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.

  • Learning activities
    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.
  • Teaching support
    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.
  • Prerequisites
    BIO100, BOT130 or corresponding knowledge on plant biology and physiology.
  • Recommended prerequisites
    BOT200, KJB100, KJB200 or corresponding knowledge on advanced plant physiology and biochemistry.
  • Assessment method
    Written exam (3h) will count 60% of the final grade.

  • Examiner scheme
    Examiner will be involved in the evaluation of the written exam and the group project scientific paper.
  • Mandatory activity
    Oral presentation of group project. Group project scientific paper will count 40% of the final grade.
  • Notes
    If there are less than 6 registered students, a simplified teaching plan will be considered.
  • Teaching hours
    There will be two lectures per week, and in addition there will be colloquia, project work, seminars, and revision.
  • Admission requirements
    Special requirements in Science