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PLANT RESPONSES TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Module code: BI306
Credits: 5
Semester: 2
Department: BIOLOGY
International:
Coordinator: Dr Emmanuelle Graciet (BIOLOGY)

	Overview
	Plants perceive and respond to a multitude of environmental signals, which are essential for regulating how plants grow and develop. The environment is also a source of biotic (e.g. pathogens) and abiotic (e.g. drought) stresses, which plants need to be able to sense and respond to for their survival. This module provides foundations, as well as more detailed insights, into how plants perceive and respond to environmental signals and stresses. The knowledge presented is relevant to key societal, ecological and agricultural issues caused by global climate change. The topics covered are aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger, Climate Action and Life on Land. Topics covered include: perception of environmental signals; signal transduction pathways; regulation of gene expression; plant responses to light and temperature; environmental signals that regulate flowering; plant interactions with other organisms; perception of pathogens by plants; plant immunity; systemic acquired resistance; plant responses to abiotic stresses. This module CANNOT be taken with BI315 Bioinformatics as there is a timetable clash.

Overview

Plants perceive and respond to a multitude of environmental signals, which are essential for regulating how plants grow and develop. The environment is also a source of biotic (e.g. pathogens) and abiotic (e.g. drought) stresses, which plants need to be able to sense and respond to for their survival. This module provides foundations, as well as more detailed insights, into how plants perceive and respond to environmental signals and stresses. The knowledge presented is relevant to key societal, ecological and agricultural issues caused by global climate change. The topics covered are aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger, Climate Action and Life on Land.

Topics covered include: perception of environmental signals; signal transduction pathways; regulation of gene expression; plant responses to light and temperature; environmental signals that regulate flowering; plant interactions with other organisms; perception of pathogens by plants; plant immunity; systemic acquired resistance; plant responses to abiotic stresses.

This module CANNOT be taken with BI315 Bioinformatics as there is a timetable clash.

	Learning Outcomes
	On successful completion of the module, students should be able to: Explain core concepts of how plants perceive environmental signals. Describe signal transduction pathways that can be activated downstream of signal perception. Explain how gene expression is regulated in response to environmental signals and link these changes to growth and stress responses. Explain how plants perceive light as a developmental signal. Describe how light and temperature impact on seasonal aspects of plant development, including transition to flowering. Explain how plants perceive and respond to pathogens, including signal transduction pathways, key hormone signaling pathways and changes in gene expression. Understand how plants sense and respond to abiotic stresses, in particular water-related stresses such as drought and flooding.

Learning Outcomes

Teaching & Learning methods

Assessment

	Autumn Supplementals/Resits
	Are supplemental/resit registrations permitted? Yes The University scheduled written exam may be re-taken in the Autumn. Continuous assessment mark is carried forward to the Autumn. University scheduled written examination (Autumn): 90 minutes, On-campus

	Pre-Requisites
	BI101, BI102, BI210

Timetable

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Courses / Module

PLANT RESPONSES TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Semester 1

Semester 2