Plant and Microbial Biology for the Environment

Codice (attivo a partire dall’AA 2021/2022)

Corso di Studio: Laurea Magistrale in Biologia dell’Ambiente D.M. 270

Classe: LM- 6 - Scienze della vita e Biologia dei Sistemi

Secondo semestre

6 ECTS (48h)

SSD Attività Didattica: BIO03 – Applied Botany

Learning objectives

The course contributes to the achievement of the educational objectives of the master degree by providing in-depth knowledge on the methods of sampling, analysis and conservation of plant and fungal genetic resources. In botany, the course aims to the acquisition of the skills necessary to plan the sampling of germplasm in field and the ex situ conservation of seeds and pollens. In the microbial field, the teaching focuses on the study of microbial communities present in the environment, with a main focus on fungi, the most representative habitats of their diversity and their main ecosystem roles. In particular as regards to plant and microbial germplasm sampling, the course aims to achieve the following objectives:

1) skills in planning representative sampling of variability within the species and populations.

2) basic knowledge on the main methodologies for analyzing genetic diversity with particular reference to species of priority habitats or of EU interest.

3) provide the students with the tools to learn about and discuss the issues dealing with the presence of microorganisms in the environment

As regards to ex situ conservation, technical and scientific skills to be acquired, concern:

1) the evaluation of the water status of seeds and pollen grains for their long-term conservation

2) the identification of microorganisms (fungi) with culture-dependent and independent methods

3) techniques for monitoring the viability and longevity of stored germplasms

4) The preparation of cell and fungal cultures for the propagation of germplasm of agronomic and environmental interest.

Expected Results

Knowledge and comprehension ability

At the end of the course the Students will demonstrate to have understood the importance of germplasm conservation, the strategies to be adopted for sampling in nature and to know the physiological principles that govern the longevity of plant and microbial accessions preserved ex situ.

Ability to apply the acquired knowledge

The Students learn to:

plan the sampling campaigns of germplasm in nature, establishing the size and effectiveness of the samples in order to maximize their level of variability
develop an effective short or long term storage strategy based on the type of germplasm to be stored
preserve the structural integrity and viability of the samples taken in the field up to the entrance in the seed bank or in a living collection.
schedule germplasm monitoring on a short and long-term base.

Judgment autonomy

Through the critical reading of scientific papers and the examination of case studies, the Students will have to demonstrate that they have acquired skills in the evaluation, interpretation and reprocessing of field data and experimental results.

Communication Skills

Through public presentation, individually or in groups, of the results of literature survey on recent scientific articles, the students will have to demonstrate that they can organize a speech in a clear and concise way, supporting it with IT tools.

Course Syllabus

The plant germplasm.

Sampling strategies in field of plant biodiversity. Individual variation and plasticity: phenotype and genotype. The basis of intraspecific variation. Allelic richness. Genetic variability analysis. Polymorphisms. Ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources. Seeds and pollen grains. Seed and pollen water status, from dispersion in nature to conservation. Drought tolerance. Analysis of the viability of seeds and pollens. Cumulative germination and germination rate. Seed and pollen longevity. Gene bank standards for orthodox seeds. In vitro culture of rare species: cell, tissue and anther-cultures. Cryopreservation. Plant regeneration. International exchanges of germplasm.

The fungal germplasm.

The dimensions of microbial biodiversity. The "rare biosphere". Is there a microbial biogeography? Concepts of individuals and species in fungi, recognition criteria. Culture-dependent and culture-independent methods for the analysis of fungal diversity. Environmental genomics approaches: metabarcoding, metagenomics and other meta-omics. Metabarcoding: markers and primers, bioinformatic analysis of the sequences. Environmental mycology: soil, water, air. Ecosystemic roles of fungi: saprotrophic fungi, pathogens, mutualist symbionts. The mic (r) obiota of plants and animals. In situ and ex situ conservation of fungi.

Basic prerequisites

Basic knowledge of botany and mycology

Basic knowledge of the systematics of plants and fungi

Teaching methods

This course includes lectures and seminars, laboratory activities and visits to the seed bank for a total of 48 hours.

Laerning assesment

Learning is verified through a written test and an oral interview.

Written Test - The written test consists of 10 questions (mainly open-ended questions, with recognition of patterns and images). Questions are intended to evaluate the knowledge acquired on the topics related to both modules (5 questions per module). The time available is 90 minutes.

Oral Interview - The oral interview consists of a discussion on the answers given by the student in the written test, and 1-2 questions on the topics covered in each module. The final grade takes into account the evaluation of the written test and the oral interview (average of the marks obtained in the two modules). The exam will be considered passed if the pass mark (18/30) is achieved for both modules.