Plants and Their Environment
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BIOS3069 | Biosciences | 3 | 10 | Spring Malaysia |
- Code
- BIOS3069
- School
- Biosciences
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring Malaysia
Summary
This module provides insights into interaction of plants, involving both upper-ground and below-ground biological processes, with the light and soil environments. The module considers the influence of different natural environments on the physiology, growth and productivity of plants. Consideration is given to using the knowledge to improve crop species for improved resource-use-efficiency and adaptation to stress environment. The module includes practical component on the development of methods and technologies for phenotyping of plants. The module provides a detailed, modern and wide-ranging training extending from the cellular to whole organism level. It is highly suitable for those with interested in plant physiology, environmental biology, environmental science, biology and crop science. Students undertaking this module is expected to have prior fundamental knowledge in related fields or have taken suitable pre-requisites such as BIOS1031 and BIOS2063. Students are reminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School in advance may be cancelled without notice. |
Target Students
Biosciences Students.
Classes
- One 3-hour practicum
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 8 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture
- One 3-hour computing
Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only in specified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takes place in some weeks of a Semester
Assessment
- 100% Exam 1 (2-hour): Examination (2 hours; Essay questions) [100%]
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
To provide a fundamental understanding of how natural resources are acquired by plants from the natural environment and the environmental factors influencing plant growth and development. By the end of the module, students should understand:(1) the biological events involved in light perception and the importance of light in photosynthesis;(2) the pathways and mechanisms involved in the uptake, transport and use of water and nutrients; (3) the impacts of natural resources on plant growth and development and crop productivity;(4) plant responses to abiotic stress;(5) how knowledge of interactions between plants and natural environments can be used to improve crop productivity and resource management;(6) methods to measure and study traits and characteristics of plants.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding – to learn of:
Fundamental information on key concepts, principles and theories associated with the ways that plants interact with natural environment
Understanding of impacts of environmental factors on plant growth and development and appreciate the need to improve crop plants
A range of specialist examples of how crops can be improved for their resource-use-efficiency and adaptation to stress environment
Intellectual skills – the ability to:
Apply subject knowledge to improve productivity and resources management in plants
Use phenotyping techniques to determine plant growth and development and analyse high-throughput phenotyping data, including computer-based analysis techniques
Observe, collect and justify the evidence and apply them in a balanced manner to support an argument
Transferable/Key Skills:
Ability to acquire, analyse and justify the information collected from a range of sources
Effective management and organisation of time to meet deadlines using effective and flexible approaches to study
Concise, accurate and confident communication and delivery of information to a variety of audiences in a written form
Conveners
- Dr Festo Massawe