Applied Plant Sciences
| Numbering Code | G-AGR01 6CA34 LE79 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ Intensive, Second semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Credits | 1 | Course Type | Lecture | |
| Target Year | Target Student | |||
| Language | English | Day/Period | Intensive | |
| Instructor name |
YAZAKI KAZUFUMI (Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere Professor) YAMAGUCHI SHINJIRO (Institute for Chemical Research Professor) UMEZAWA TOSHIAKI (Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere Professor) IFUKU KENTARO (Graduate School of Agriculture Professor) KOBAYASHI MASARU (Graduate School of Agriculture Associate Professor) SUGIYAMA AKIFUMI (Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere Associate Professor) TOBIMATSU YUUKI (Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere Associate Professor) |
|||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course | Plant science is an indispensable discipline in the pursuit of a sustainable society. The lecture will introduce the recent topics on plant sciences, including both basic and applied studies on biochemistry and molecular biology, together with background information. | |||
| Course Goals | Students learn about recent advances in plant science and how they relate to our society. | |||
| Schedule and Contents |
1. Prof. Kazufumi Yazaki: Terpenoids are the largest group of plant secondary metabolites and they provide many valuable compounds used in human life. Identification of biosynthetic genes involved in terpenoids metabolisms are explained, and the applications to synthetic biology are lectured. 2. Assoc. prof. Akifumi Sugiyama: Plant metabolites secreted from roots to soil play important roles in biological communication. How these metabolites are secreted from roots and distributed in the soil will be explained. Efforts to utilize these metabolites in agriculture will also be discussed. 3. Prof. Toshiaki Umezawa: The organic chemical reaction mechanisms commonly found in plant secondary metabolism will be outlined. The biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids will also be outlined, focusing on stereochemical mechanisms. 4. Assoc. prof. Yuki Tobimatsu: Plant cell wall, a sophisticated composite of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds, constitutes the bulk of plant biomass that can be utilized by humans. This lecture will outline the structure and biosynthesis of plant cell wall components, and discuss the potentials for natural and bioengineered cell walls to be used in human society. 5. Prof. Shinjiro Yamaguchi: Plant hormones are a group of small molecules that regulate growth and development as well as environmental responses in plants. How plant hormones are made and act in plants will be discussed. The lecture will also cover how plant hormones contribute to agriculture. 6. Assoc. prof. Masaru Kobayashi: Plants require 17 nutritional elements for growth. Precise understanding of the function of each element is critical to reducing the loss of crop production due to nutritional deficiency. In this part of the course, recent advances in the study of the physiological function of boron, a plant-specific essential micronutrient, are lectured. 7. Prof. Kentaro Ifuku: Photosynthesis is a light-energy conversion reaction that supports life on Earth. Recent advances in photosynthetic research and efforts to enhance this reaction to increase crop productivity and produce useful substances will be introduced. 8. Feedbacks for each lecture. |
|||
| Evaluation Methods and Policy | In the lectures, assignments and/or small examinations will be taken, and their evaluations will be carried out. Refer to the current year's "Guide to Degree Programs" for attainment levels of evaluation. | |||
| Course Requirements | Fundamental biochemistry studied in the bachelor course should be confirmed. | |||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Review the material distributed during the lectures. Read related scientific papers to deepen the understanding. | |||
| Textbooks | Textbooks/References | Handouts will be distributed during the lectures. | ||
| References, etc. |
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants (2nd Edition), Buchanan, B.B. et al., (Wiley, 2015), ISBN:9780470714218 Plant Physiology and Development (6th Edition), Taiz, L. et al., (Oxford University Press Inc, 2018), ISBN:9781605357454 Medicinal Natural Products, A Biosynthetic Approach (3rd Edition), Dewick, P. M., (Wiley, 2009), ISBN:9780470741689 |
|||
