207-263 Advanced Plant Biology

Study commitment for this subject is five hours per week

The aims of this subject are to extend the student's ability to:

• apply the principles and units of chemical measurement and energy balances;

• describe the biochemistry of major plant physiological processes;

• identify the causes and effects of environmental stresses;

• decribe the effects of the major plant hormones on plant growth and development;

• describe the role of natural selection and competition in plant biology;

• assess the effects of herbicides on plant metabolism, the environment and health;

• determine the physiological basis of plant responses to disease and decay; and

• identify responses of native plants to aspects of the Australian environment.

Content to be studied includes nutrient cycling, uptake and assays; photosynthesis; respiration; germination,growth, flowering and senescence; the biology of mycorrhizal fungi; competition, breeding and genetics; stress physiology; physiological plant pathology; hormone biology; mechanisms of herbicide action; plant pollutants; and the biology of native plants.

One 1-hour mid-semester examination worth 20% of final marks, one final 2-hour examination worth 50% of final marks and three practical reports equivalent to 2000 words worth 30% of final marks.