Plants form and fuction

128 topics across 7 chapters

Chapter 1

Plant anatomy & morphology (organs and overall structure)

Roots: form & function

3 subtopics

Root zones & types (cap, elongation, maturation; tap vs fibrous)

Root internal anatomy (cross-sections; cortex, endodermis, stele)

Root modifications & symbioses (storage roots, aerial roots, nodules)

Stems: form & function

3 subtopics

Stem internal anatomy (nodes/internodes; pith/cortex/vascular)

Primary vs secondary structure in stems (herbaceous vs woody)

Stem modifications (rhizomes, stolons, tubers, cladodes)

Leaves: form & function

3 subtopics

Leaf internal anatomy (epidermis, mesophyll, veins)

Stomata & epidermal structures (guard cells, cuticle, trichomes)

Leaf modifications (spines, tendrils, succulence, carnivory)

Whole-plant architecture (shoot/root systems; branching patterns)

Chapter 2

Plant cells, tissues & meristems

Plant cell essentials (organelles & compartments)

3 subtopics

Plastids (chloroplasts, amyloplasts, chromoplasts)

Vacuole & turgor (incl. tonoplast; why plants stay rigid)

Microscopy skill: identify common plant cell structures

Plant cell wall & plasmodesmata

2 subtopics

Primary vs secondary cell wall; cellulose/hemicellulose/pectin/lignin

Plasmodesmata & symplastic transport concepts

Tissue systems overview (dermal/ground/vascular)

3 subtopics

Dermal tissue: epidermis & cuticle

2 subtopics

Trichomes & root hairs (structure and roles)

Periderm (cork) basics (dermal tissue in woody organs)

Ground tissues: parenchyma/collenchyma/sclerenchyma

2 subtopics

Parenchyma functions (storage, photosynthesis, regeneration)

Collenchyma vs sclerenchyma (support tissues; living vs dead at maturity)

Vascular bundle patterns (dicot vs monocot; ring vs scattered)

Meristems & differentiation

3 subtopics

Apical meristems & primary growth

Lateral meristems (vascular cambium, cork cambium)

Differentiation pathways: from meristem to mature tissues

Vascular tissues in detail (xylem/phloem)

3 subtopics

Xylem cell types (tracheids, vessel elements, fibers)

Phloem cell types (sieve elements, companion cells)

Lab skill: recognize xylem vs phloem in stem/root cross-sections

Chapter 3

Transport & nutrition (water, minerals, sugars)

Water potential, osmosis & diffusion

2 subtopics

Practice: calculate water potential (Ψ) problems

Lab: plasmolysis / turgor demonstration

Xylem transport mechanisms (cohesion–tension)

2 subtopics

Cavitation/embolism and how plants prevent it

Root pressure & guttation

Phloem transport mechanisms (pressure-flow)

2 subtopics

Source–sink relationships (where sugars are made vs used/stored)

Phloem loading/unloading strategies (apoplast vs symplast)

Transpiration & stomatal regulation

2 subtopics

Guard cell ion transport (K+, Cl−, malate) and turgor control

Stomatal closure signaling (ABA, CO2, drought cues)

Mineral nutrition & deficiency symptoms (macro/micronutrients)

Plant–microbe nutrient symbioses (mycorrhizae, N-fixation)

3 subtopics

Mycorrhizal mutualisms: types & benefits

Nitrogen-fixing nodules (rhizobia) and the N cycle link

Lab skill: observe mycorrhizae or nodules (staining/clearing; microscopy)

Chapter 4

Photosynthesis & respiration (energy and metabolism)

Chloroplast structure & pigment systems

1 subtopics

Label thylakoid/stroma/grana; relate chloroplast structure to function

Light reactions (ETC, chemiosmosis)

2 subtopics

Z-scheme & redox carriers (PSII/PSI, plastoquinone, cytochrome b6f)

Photophosphorylation (ATP synthase, proton gradient)

Carbon fixation: Calvin cycle

2 subtopics

RuBisCO function and regulation

Limiting factors for photosynthesis (light, CO2, temperature, water)

Photorespiration & carbon-concentrating pathways (C3/C4/CAM)

2 subtopics

Compare C3, C4, and CAM tradeoffs using example plants

Photorespiration: causes, costs, and when it helps

Cellular respiration in plants

2 subtopics

Glycolysis, TCA cycle, mitochondrial ETC (plant context)

Fermentation in roots/seeds under low O2 (waterlogging)

Measuring photosynthesis/respiration (lab methods & data)

2 subtopics

Leaf-disk flotation assay / IRGA basics

Graphing & interpreting rate data (units, controls, sources of error)

Chapter 5

Growth & development

Plant hormones overview & crosstalk

5 subtopics

Auxin: apical dominance & patterning

Gibberellins: stem elongation & germination

Cytokinins: cell division & shoot formation

Ethylene: ripening & stress responses

Abscisic acid (ABA): drought signaling and stomatal control

Tropisms (directional growth responses)

3 subtopics

Phototropism mechanisms (auxin redistribution)

Gravitropism mechanisms (statoliths; root vs shoot responses)

Thigmotropism (touch responses; tendril coiling)

Photoperiodism & flowering signals

2 subtopics

Phytochrome and circadian clock basics

Vernalization concept and examples

Secondary growth & wood formation

2 subtopics

Vascular cambium activity; annual rings

Cork cambium & bark formation

Senescence & abscission

2 subtopics

Abscission zone formation (leaf/fruit drop mechanics)

Programmed cell death basics in plants

Chapter 6

Reproduction & life cycles

Flower structure & function

2 subtopics

Lab: dissect a flower and identify organs

Inflorescence types and their functional significance

Pollination & fertilization in angiosperms

2 subtopics

Double fertilization & endosperm

Self-incompatibility & outcrossing strategies

Seed development, dormancy & germination

2 subtopics

Embryo anatomy and seed tissues (coat, endosperm)

Germination cues (water, temperature, light) and mobilization

Fruit development & dispersal

2 subtopics

100

Fruit types (dry/fleshy; dehiscent/indehiscent)

101

Dispersal syndromes (wind, water, animals)

102

Alternation of generations across plant groups

2 subtopics

103

Compare angiosperms vs gymnosperms reproduction

104

Moss/fern life cycles (gametophyte vs sporophyte dominance)

Chapter 7

Responses, stress & adaptations

105

Plant innate immunity overview

2 subtopics

106

PTI vs ETI concepts; receptors and effectors

107

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) basics

108

Abiotic stress physiology (drought, salt, heat/cold)

4 subtopics

109

Drought responses beyond ABA (osmotic adjustment, aquaporins, hydraulic limits)

110

Salt stress: ion homeostasis and osmolytes

111

Heat/cold stress: membrane stability and protein protection

↗ Abscisic acid (ABA): drought signaling and stomatal control (see Chapter 5)

112

Symbioses & rhizosphere ecology

3 subtopics

↗ Mycorrhizal mutualisms: types & benefits (see Chapter 3)

↗ Nitrogen-fixing nodules (rhizobia) and the N cycle link (see Chapter 3)

113

Rhizosphere microbiome: recruitment and functions

114

Structural/physiological adaptations (xerophytes, hydrophytes, halophytes)

3 subtopics

115

Xerophyte traits (cuticle, stomata placement, water storage; CAM links)

116

Hydrophyte traits (aerenchyma, buoyancy, gas exchange constraints)

117

Halophyte traits (salt glands/bladders, succulence, compartmentation)

118

Long-distance signaling & “plant behavior”

2 subtopics

119

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in defense/communication

120

Electrical/Ca2+ signaling and systemic wound responses