606-304 Environmental Plant Physiology

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This subject deals with plant function in relation to the changing physical environment - essential study for students of basic molecular sciences with an interest in plant performance in the natural environment, and for students of ecology, forestry and environmental science with an interest in the function of plants and the detection of the physical environment.

The practical component of the subject will introduce students to state-of-the-art methods for environmental monitoring using data acquisition systems and a range of environmental sensors.

Emphasis will be placed on sampling strategies and data processing.

We focus on the most topical and challenging aspects of plants in the changing environment:

• The physical environment - what plants and animals have to cope with;
• Plant-animal interactions - how plants defend themselves and how animals cope with these defences;
• Metabolism of defensive compounds - how plants produce their toxic and antinutritional compounds; implications for GM plants;
• Genetic modification of plants - how they are made, how they perform and how they impact the environment;
• Transpiration and stomata - optimal water use strategies; measuring water use efficiency;
• Photosynthetic carbon assimilation and growth - measurement of growth; contributers to growth; genetic engineering and plant performance;
• Coping with environmental extremes - metal accumulating plants, phytomining and phytoremediation;
• Tools of the global detective - stable isotope fractionation, mechanisms and interpretation.