MINERAL NUTRITION AND MEMBRANE PHYSIOLOGY for 3rd year students (General Botany)

Instructor : Prof. Dr / Heshmat S. AldesuquyMeeting times :Lecture two hours/week Sat .2-4 pm .Office Hours : Tus. 12-2 pmTexts[1 :[Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 2nd ed .Marschner, 1995 (required)Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants ،Buchanan et al . ،2000( optional)Physicochemical and Environmental Plant Physiology, 2nd ed, Nobel, 1999 (optional)

Course description : This course will explore the mechanistic and energetic basis of water relations and membrane transport in plants as well as historical and modern perspectives on plant mineral nutrition . Laboratory exercises will emphasize contemporary methods in these areas, including measurement of plant water status, enzyme and transport kinetics, diagnosis and alleviation of plant mineral deficiencies, and the use of stable and radioisotopes .Students will design and conduct an original experiment in one of these areas and present their results in written and oral format .Course objectives :The objectives for this course are to:Provide students with an understanding of plant mineral nutrition, the functions of the various mineral nutrients, and the recognition and treatment of mineral deficiencies in plants;Train students in modern methods used in plant physiology and how to interpret the data obtained;Familiarize students with the analysis and critique of primary scientific literature and their writing skills.