Plant Developmental Anatomy

Catalog description

The course will provide students with an understanding of the developmental anatomy of plant organs, tissues and cells throughout the plant life cycle. When appropriate, the course will discuss genes involved in the formation and function of these organs and how organ development is affected by environmental inputs. In laboratory sections, observational skills will be trained and knowledge gained in lectures will be applied to the analysis of plant anatomical structures. Plant developmental adjustments to environmental stresses will be studied using light microscopy and digital image acquisition. Primary scientific literature related to the lecture topics will be assigned as reading material to be discussed in class. Students will learn how to formulate research hypotheses and, in a written assignment, research a global challenge to food security and discuss strategies to improve agricultural productivity by manipulating the biology of plants.