Lecture outline

Photosynthesis and respiration
_ The capture of light energy and its conversion into organic compounds
_ Photorespiration and photosynthetic processes
_ Photosynthetic efficiency: C 3 and C 4 plants
_ Function of respiration
_ Factors affecting respiration

Water relations
_ Properties of water
_ Water, osmotic and pressure potentials
_ Soil-plant-air continuum
_ Transpiration

Mineral nutrition
_ Essential nutrients for plant growth
_ Ion up-take
_ Soil, Roots and Microbes

Solute transport and assimilate partitioning
_ Movements of nutrients and assimilate through plants
_ membrane transport processes
_Source-sink relationships

Development and plant hormones
_ Auxins
_ Gibberellins
_Cytokinins
_Ethylene
_Abscisic acid

Evaluation scheme:
Lab reports 25%
Midterm 30%
Final exam 45%

Evaluative feedback from the first assignment and midterm examination will be provided prior to the deadline for voluntary withdrawal (November 17, 2010).

Laboratory attendance is mandatory: reports will not be accepted if a person is not in the lab. A medical certificate is necessary if a lab is missed and a lab report still required.

Lab reports must be individual contributions, although lab experiments will be carried out in small groups.

Laboratory reports are due 7 days after the completion of the lab. Lab reports passed after this time will be deducted by 20%per day.

A word from our lawyers:
Students are reminded that they have an obligation to act in a fair and reasonable manner towards their peers, the faculty, staff, administration and the physical property of the university, and that plagiarism, cheating and impersonation of others in examinations are serious offences and will be handled according to Policies and Guidelines of the University of Manitoba, Section 2: Student Discipline Bylaw (see the 2010-2011 University of Manitoba Undergraduate Calendar).

Required textbook: L.Taiz and E. Zeiger, Plant Physiology, Fifth Edition, 2002 (available at the bookstore)