Soil and Plant Science

PROTEIN BIOCHEMISTRY (1 CFU) - Amino acids, peptides and protein structures. Chemical thermodynamics: the Gibbs free energy, endergonic and exergonic reactions. The enzymes: catalysis, the Michaelis-Menten equation and enzyme kinetics, enzyme modes of action, inhibition and regulation. Analytical methods for protein study.
BIOENERGETICS AND CARBON METABOLISM (1.5 CFU) - Bioenergetics and metabolism: phosphoryl group transfer and ATP, the energy coupling, biological redox reactions. Carbon oxidative metabolism. Carbohydrates: glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, the fermentations. Lipids: the β-oxidative pathway, the glyoxylate cycle, the gluconeogenesis. Plant cell respiration: the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, steps and regulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Plant mitochondrial electron transport. Oxidative phosphorylation: the chemiosmotic theory and ATP synthesis.
WATER TRANSPORT AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN HIGHER PLANTS (2 CFU) - The chemo-physical properties of water. The cell water potential in plant. Water balance in plants. Water uptake by roots and xylem transport. Leaf transpiration. The properties of light. Photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic light reactions. The organization of the photosynthetic apparatus. The electron and proton transfer systems: the roles of photosystems II and I, the cytochrome b6f complex, the cycle of the ubiquinone pool. Photophosphorylation. The Calvin cycle and its regulation. The synthesis of starch and sucrose. Photorespiration. The C4 carbon cycle and the CAM metabolism. Plant adaptation to light conditions. The responses to oxidative stress in chloroplasts.
SOLUTE TRANSPORT AND PLANT MINERAL NUTRITION (1.5 CFU) - Plant mineral nutrition. Macro- and micro- nutrients. The concept of rhizosphere and the soil-plant-microorganism interactions. The chemical potential and the active and passive transport of solutes. The plant cell membrane potential. Transport systems: pumps, channels and carriers. The kinetic properties of transport systems. The biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen. Nitrate reduction and ammonium assimilation. Biological nitrogen fixation. Sulfur assimilation. Iron acquisition. Sink-source relations in plant organs. Phloem translocation: characteristics and the mechanisms of loading and unloading.
PLANT DEVELOPMENT AND RESPONSES TO LIGHT (1 CFU) - Seed: characteristics, germination and reserve utilization. Plant responses to red-light: phytochromes, photoperiodism and the flowering control. Plant responses to blue-light. Stomatal opening. Physiological functions controlled by plant hormones: auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene and abscisic acid.
PLANT RESPONSES TO STRESSES (1 CFU) - Plant secondary metabolism: defense and interaction. Characteristic and eco-physiological functions of terpenes, phenolic compounds and alkaloids. Plant responses to abiotic stresses: drought and salt stress, oxygen deprivation, heat and cold stress.

Definition of the soil: the soil as open system. The soil main functions: production function, protective,natural function. Soil as a three-phase system: solid, liquid and gaseous. Theoretical structure of a soilprofile. Minerals and rocks: mineral silicates, classification and structure of silicate minerals. Processes ofminerals alteration: disintegration and decay, action of water, wind, glaciers and biotic entities. Products ofalteration: clays. Structure of the clay: 1:1 clays, 2:1 clays, heterovalent isomorphous substitutions. Thephysical properties of the soil: real and apparent texture, structure, density and porosity. The organicmatter: humic and non humic component, processes of accumulation and consumption in relation to soilfertility. Action of the substance on the chemical, physical and biological properties of the soil. Chemicalproperties of the soil: adsorption and exchange: main theories, the characteristics and composition of theexchange complex of the soil, degree of base saturation, cation adsorption and anion specific andnon-specific, complex inner-sphere and outer-sphere. The soil-water relationships. The soil-air relations:soil as a "respiratory system". Red-ox potential of the soil. Chemical properties of soil: different pH values(in water and potential). Acid, basic, sodium, submerged soils. Soils with extreme pH: possible correction.Soil fertility. Nitrogen cycle. The phosphorus cycle. Sulfur cycle and other meso and micro elements inrelation to the availability in the soil. Fertilizers: mineral, organic, amendments and corrective.- Soil Taxonomy - Land Capability classification -Fertilization plans