Autotrophy

This course unit presents the major functions of carbon, mineral, and water nutrition in plants that enable their autotrophy (the production of their biomass). It will provide the necessary foundation for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of nutrient absorption, distribution, and assimilation. The course unit will consist of two main parts: one dedicated to mineral nutrition and the other to carbon nutrition.

After reviewing the properties of membranes and plant cell walls and the concepts of transmembrane transport, the section of the course devoted to mineral nutrition will cover the mechanisms of water absorption and circulation, root absorption, subcellular compartmentalization, and mineral distribution, as well as nitrogen assimilation metabolism.

The chapter on carbon nutrition will discuss how chloroplasts function in plant cells, photosynthesis (the capture of light energy and the synthesis of primary carbon compounds), the production of organic compounds, and their distribution within the plant.

Knowledge:

- understand the mechanisms of transmembrane transport,

- understand the basics of carbon and nitrogen assimilation,

- Understand the different scales at which nutrition can be approached: subcellular, tissue, organ, and whole plant.

Expertise:

- apply a rigorous scientific approach to the study of plant nutrition mechanisms at the relevant scale,

- apply rigorous scientific reasoning (tutorial),

- conduct experiments, analyze results, interpret them, and draw conclusions (lab work).

Interpersonal Skills:

- develop an interest in plant biology,

- foster scientific curiosity and rigor,

- develop critical thinking skills,

- work as a team (practical work in pairs, group work in tutorials)

- basic knowledge of biochemistry and enzymology,

- basic knowledge of molecular biology, particularly gene expression and its regulation,

- basic knowledge of cell biology,

- Basic knowledge of plant anatomy.