Plant Physiology

Cycle	Date	Topics & Key Questions (text chapter). For most topics, online notes* and quizzes are available.*	Lab (Day 6)
I	Jan 15 (T)	Introduction to Plant Physiology *(What is plant physiology? Why should we study plant physiology? What is a plant?)* (on line notes; study guide; quiz - public folder)	Ecophysiology (model building science): Are leaves good predictors of climate? Plant growth media & techniques Seed germination primer (observational science). We will conduct the following exercises: Measuring germination percentage and rate; Testing seeds for viability; Seed packet analysis; Early seedling growth & development; Effect of light on seed germination; Photomorphogenesis: Effect of Light on Seedling Growth & Development Due - Climate pre-lab; Bring copies of all exercises; signed Safety Contract
	17 (Th)	The plant way of life (How has the plant lifestyle been evolutionarily shaped by their phylogeny?) (on line notes; foraging case study; study guide; Concepts Maps; quiz; essay questions)
	21 (M)	Are plants smarter than you think? *(Well?)* (Readings in public folder)
II	23 (W)	Plant cells: structure & function (Ch 1) *(How do plant cells function?)* (on line notes, study guide)	Pigment Composition in Rapid cycling Brassica rapa (setup experiment; hypothetico-deductive science) Complete Seed Germination Exercises from Lab 1 Plant - Broad beans for stomata lab Due - Climate post-lab
	25 (F)	Plastids, vacuoles & cell walls (Ch 1) *(Why do plant cells have plastids, vacuoles and cell walls? What is the function/structure of these special structures?)*
	29 (T)	Cell wall & cell growth (Ch 15) *(How can walls be rigid and strong, yet still permit growth?)* (PowerPoint in public folder, online notes; quiz; Acid growth exercise)
III	Feb 2 (Th)	Water relations - diffusion, osmosis, water potential (Ch 3) (What determines the direction and rate of water movement in plants?) (online notes; quiz - water properties; quiz- water potential)	Mechanism of raphide discharge in Dieffenbachia (hypothetico-deductive science) Plant - seeds for mineral nutrition / hydroponics lab Due - Idioblast pre-lab; Post-lab assignments for photomorphogenesis & seed germination exercises.
	4 (M)	Water balance - soil water and water uptake (Ch 4); Water distribution in containers (How do plants obtain water from the soil?) (online notes; quiz - water/soil; Spuds McSaupe Plays with Sponges)
	6 (W)	Water transport (Ch 4) (How is water transported from the roots to the leaves?) (online notes; quiz-water transport)
IV	8 (F)	EXAM #1: Intro to mechanics	Potato water potential Due - Potato pre-lab; Idioblast Lab Report & Checklist
	12 (T)	Gas exchange and stomatal mechanics (Ch 4) (How do plants solve the transpiration / photosynthesis paradox?) (online notes; quiz-gas exchange; GC mechanics diagram - jpg file, right click to save)
	14 (Th)	Phloem transport (Ch 10) *(How do plants transport nutrients from the site of production to the site of need?)* (on line notes; phloem case studies; quiz-phloem)
V	18 (M)	Mineral nutrition (Ch 5) *(What minerals are required for plant growth & development?);*	Stomatal morphology and physiology of Vicia faba Plant - beans for photosynthesis lab Hydroponics experiment Due: Stomata pre-lab; Potato post-lab
	20 (W)	Nitrogen metabolism (Ch 13) & solute transport (Ch 6); nitrogen fertilizers (How do plants obtain and utilize nitrogen?)
	21-24	Long Weekend
	26 (T)	Autrotrophic metabolism - pigments & plastids (Ch 7) (Why are plants green?) (online notes; quiz #1)
VI	28 (Th	Autotrophic metabolism - light reactions (Ch 7) *(How do plants capture light?)*	Time Lapse Video Experiment: Awn Movement in Stipa Due: Stomata post-lab; time lapse pre-lab
	Mar 3 (M)	Autotrophic metabolism - carbon metabolism (Ch 8) *(How do plants use carbon dioxide to make carbohydrates?)* (online notes; quiz #2)
	5 (W)	Autotrophic metabolism - ecological considerations (Ch 9) (How have plants adapted photosynthetically to hot, dry, sunny conditions?)
VII	7 (F)	EXAM #2: phloem - autotrophic	Qubit: Photosynthesis Remove RCBr from water mat Due: Qubit pre-lab; time-lapse post-lab; Independent Research project topic
	11 (T)	Heterotrophic metabolism (Ch 11) *(How do plants make ATP?)*
	13 (Th)	Growth & Development, Hormones (Ch 16) (How do plants grow and develop, especially considering the restrictions placed on them by cell walls?) (online notes; case study)
VIII	15-24	Easter Holiday	Physiology of maple sap flow Plant seeds for RCBr pigment analysis Due - Qubit post-lab
	25 (T)	Auxins (Ch 19) *(What do auxins do?)* (PowerPoint in public folder)
	27 (Th)	Gibberellins (Ch 20) (What do gibberellins do?) (PowerPoint in public folder)
	29 (S)	Maple Syrup Festival
	31(M)	Cytokinins (Ch 21) (What do cytokinins do?) (PowerPoint in public folder)
IX	Apr 2 (W)	Ethylene (Ch 22) (What does ethylene do?) (PowerPoint in public folder)	Independent Research project Due: Maple Quiz
	4 (F)	Abscisic acid (Ch 23), brassinosteroids (Ch 24) & other hormones (What do these hormones do?)* (PowerPoints in public folder)*
	5 (S)	Maple Syrup Festival
	8 (T)	Phytochrome (Ch 17) (How do plants monitor changes in day length and light quality?) (online notes)
X	10 (Th)	Positioning Responses - gravitropism (Ch 19) (Why do plants bend when placed on their side?) (online notes)	Pigment Composition Analysis in RCBr Plant: beans for sun prints Due: RCBr post-lab
	14 (M)	EXAM #3: Heterotrophic - phytochrome
	16 (W)	Phototropism and other positioning responses (Ch 19) (Why do plants bend toward the light?)
XI	18 (F)	Flowering (Ch 24) (How do plants control the timing of flowering?) (online notes)	Independent Research Project
	22 (T)	More flowering
	23 (W)	Scholarship Day - Independent Research Presentations. Also due: Final report, & Checklist
	25 (F)	Fruit development & embryogenesis (How do fruits develop?)
XII	28 (M)	Biology Seminar: Dr. David Biesboer (Univ of Minnesota) - Nitrogen Cycling in Iron Springs Bog; 4:00 PM; PENGL 373	Sun & Leaf Prints Analysis of hydroponics experiment
	29 (T)	Seed germination (How do seeds germinate?)
	May 1 (Th)	Senescence & dormancy (Why do plants leaves turn colors in the autumn and then fall off?)
	5 (M)	Spring Wildflowers; Course overview & summary *(What unique physiological adaptations have spring flowering plants evolved?)* (online notes)
	6 (T)	Study Day
	7 (W)	*EXAM #4 (Final Exam, Positioning - wildflowers & comprehensive); 3:30 - 5:30 pm*