Agronomy 525

Syllabus – Spring 2003

Date

Topic

Exercise

Readings*

January 13

Introduction; Photosynthesis, cell biology and light

Pre-test

1 to 27

January 15

Photosynthesis and the light reactions

 

111 to 143

January 17

The dark reactions of photosynthesis

 

145 to 152; 156 to 162

January 20

Martin Luther King Holiday-No Class

 

 

January 22

Photorespiration, dark respiration and plant carbon balance

 

152 to 156; 223 to 247

January 24

Light, canopy structure and photosynthesis

Quiz 1

171 to 183

January 27

Temperature effects on plant carbon balance

 

188 to 192

January 29

Water stress effects on photosynthesis and dark respiration

 

 

January 31

Effects of CO2, O2, and wind on photosynthesis

 

183 to 188

February 3

Mineral nutrients and photosynthesis

 

 

February 5

Introduction to organic reserve accumulation in crop plants

 

162 to 170

February 7

Use of stored reserves in perennial plants including turf

Quiz 2

 

February 10

Use of stored reserves in annual and biennial crop species

 

 

February 12

Impact of environment/management on organic reserves

 

 

February 14

Introduction to translocation processes in plants

 

193 to 212

February 17

Source-sink relations and mechanisms of translocation

 

212 to 221

February 19

Factors influencing translocation in crop plants

 

 

February 21

 

Exam I

 

February 24

Essential nutrients and mechanisms of nutrient uptake

 

67 to 76

February 26

Factors influencing nutrient uptake by plants

 

76 to 86

February 28

Nutrient management in cropping systems

 

 

March 3

Nitrogen metabolism in plants

 

259 to 266

March 5

Mechanisms of nitrogen fixation in higher plants

 

266 to 272

March 7

Environment and management effects on nitrogen fixation

Quiz 3

 

March 10

Introduction to plant growth and development

 

313 to 338

March 12

Meristems and crop management

 

339 to 358

March 14

Environment, plant growth and meristem function

 

375 to 387

March 24

Reproductive development and phytochrome

 

559 to 590

March 26

Introduction to quantitative analysis of plant growth

 

367 to 369

March 28

Crop growth rate and leaf area index

Quiz 4

 

March 31

Net assimilation rate and relative growth rate

 

 

April 2

Growth analysis applications

 

 

April 4

Yield components and homeostasis

 

 

April 7

Yield components in grain crops

 

 

April 9

Yield components in turf and forages

 

 

April 11

 

Exam II

 

April 14

High temperature stress in plants

 

602 to 606

April 16

Chilling and freezing stress in plants

 

606 to 611

April 18

Managing for improved temperature stress tolerance

 

 

April 21

Water movement in plants and water use efficiency

 

33 to 65

April 23

Influence of water stress on plant physiological functions

 

591 to 602

April 25

Water stress management in plants

Quiz 5

 

April 28

Physiology and crop improvement

 

 

April 30

Biotech and crop improvement: Case study I

 

 

May 2

Biotech and crop improvement: Case study II

 

 

*Plant Physiology by Taiz and Zeigler, 3rd Edition, 2002