BOTANY - channel 2

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic photoautrophs. Structural levels and nutritional patterns. Cellular organization: cellular types. Plastids (classification, structure and function). Vacuoles. Growth and mechanism of cell division. Differentiation and function of tissues and organs. Levels of morphological organization. Meristematic tissues. Adult or definitive tissues. Histological responses to abiotic and biotic stress. Cell compartmentation.

Systematics and Phylogenetics. Taxonomic categories and botanical nomenclature. Concept of Species and Speciation. Survey of vegetative reproduction, sporogony and sexual reproduction. Apomixis. Life cycle patterns: ontogenetic and metagenetic cycles (aplonts, diplonts, aplodiplonts). Sexuality in plants: hermaphroditism, monoecious and diecious plants. Eukaryotic algae: general features, body organization, reproduction, ecological role and distribution. Major features, systematics, life cycle patterns and ecological role of main algal groups: Rhodophyta (red algae), Bacillariophyta (diatoms), Ochrophyta (brown algae), Chlorophyta (green algae). Plant colonization of land: challenges, ancestors and theories, plant terrestrial adaptations. The early land plants. Bryophytes: Vegetative and reproductive features. Life cycle pattern. Taxonomy of main groups (Bryophyta, Hepatophyta, Anthocerotophyta) and ecological role. Pteridophytes: Vegetative and reproductive features. Life cycle pattern. Isosporous and heterosporous. Major characteristics and systematics of main taxonomic groups (Lycophyta, Psilotophyta, Sphenophyta, Pterophyta). Spermatophyta: General features of seed plants. Pollen, ovule and seed. Systematics. Gymnosperms: Vegetative and reproductive systems. Life cycle pattern. Major characteristics and systematics of extant groups (Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Coniferophyta, Gnetophyta). Angiosperms: Vegetative features of flowering plants. Flowers, pollination and fertilization. Life cycle pattern. Fruits. Seed dispersal. Main characteristics of Monocots, Magnolids and Eudicots. Fungi: Body organization. Reproductive structures. Life cycle patterns, ecological role. Nutrition modes in fungi. Systematics. Oomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota: Main features, reproduction and life cycle patterns, ecological role and economic use. Indigenous and alloctonous flora. Relevant species of the Mediterranean flora. Techniques of herbaria preparation. Identification of main taxonomic groups based on morphological characters.

http://www.dipbot.unict.it/frame/botsistit.htm

RAVEN P.H., EVERT R.F. & EICHORN S.E, Biologia delle piante. VI ed. 2002. Zanichelli ed., Bologna.
MAUSETH J. D., Botanica Biodiversità - II ed. 2006. Casa ed. Idelson-Gnocchi.