Plant Physiology: Nutrition, Transport and Metabolism

Plant Physiology is a fundamental and compulsory subject that is part of the scientific framework of modern Plant Biology and introduces the student to the functioning of plants, their biochemical and functional activities and the processes that explain the growth and development of plants, plant's life cycle, as well as the relationship and communication mechanisms with the environment that surrounds them.

It is a young discipline closely related to other biological subjects that deal with different levels of complexity; atomic, molecular and cellular or studies of individuals, populations and systems, both in vivo and in vitro, and fundamental or applied aspects. Plant Physiology presents an increasing number of interconnections with other disciplines.

The acquisition of basic knowledge and skills in Plant Physiology is a necessary step in the Degree in Biology, with an application of this knowledge to sustainable agricultural production, pharmacy, biotechnology or bioeconomy. The reason for this is that the Physiology of Plants is a discipline that significantly affects the well-being of the world population: the search for new medicines derived from plants and new health-promoting metabolites in food plants, the search for energetic plant materials to obtain biofuels, the prediction of the effect of climate change on plants and ecosystems, the contribution of plants in preservation of the environment and, finally, the improvement in plant production that guarantees food for an estimated world population of 9 billion in 2030. Therefore, this subject will provide students the knowledge of different applications that in the future will allow them to develop multiple aspects of the profession collected by ANECA in relation to the Degree in Biology.

Course will consist of 60hrs of in class work and 90 hrs of independent work outside the classroom.