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Overview

The key cellular processes that facilitate plant growth and development; how these processes are regulated by the environment; how plants respond to stressful conditions; applications in conventional plant breeding, biotechnology and food production.

In this paper we investigate, using a combination of laboratories, project-based research, lectures and tutorials, the processes and factors that control plant growth and development, and how plants can be manipulated to sustainably satisfy the increasing global demand for crops, food and fuels.

You will learn the mechanisms that plants use to control their growth and development, and how an understanding of these mechanisms enables more efficient production of crop plants that produce greater yields with fewer resources and a reduced environmental impact.

You will learn how to culture plant cells and produce artificial seeds, how to extend the postharvest lives of fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, how plant cells can be used as green chemical factories and how to produce super-plants that can cope with the stresses associated with climate change.

About this paper

Paper title Plant Functional Biology and Biotechnology
Subject Botany
EFTS 0.15
Points 18 points
Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,318.20
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
One of BIOL 112, BIOL 113, BIOL 123, BTNY 111, CELS 191, ECOL 111, HUBS 191, HUBS 192, MARI 112, PTWY 131, PTWY 132 and 18 further points from Science Schedule C
Restriction
BTNY 221
Schedule C
Science
Eligibility
Suitable for undergraduates, graduates and professionals of all disciplines interested in or working with plants or plants-based products.
Contact
botany@otago.ac.nz
Teaching staff

Convener: Associate Professor David Burritt

Lecturer: Associate Professor Paul Guy

 

Paper Structure
  • Section I: The Development of Higher Plants: theory and biotechnological applications.
  • Section II: Plant Metabolism: designing better plants, and Plant Responses to Stress: coping with climate change.
Teaching Arrangements
  • 24 lectures
  • 3 laboratory experiments (run over 11 weeks)
  • 1 tutorial (run in lecture time)
Textbooks

Taiz, L. & Zieger, E. (2015).  Plant Physiology and Development. Sinauer Associates Inc., 6th edition.

Taiz, Moller, Murphy & Zieger, E (2023).  Plant Physiology and Development.  Sinauer Associate inc., 7th edition.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Lifelong learning, Critical thinking.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will demonstrate in-depth understanding of the central concepts, theories, and current areas of debate.

Overview

The key cellular processes that facilitate plant growth and development; how these processes are regulated by the environment; how plants respond to stressful conditions; applications in conventional plant breeding, biotechnology and food production.

Using a combination of laboratories, project-based research, lectures and tutorials, we will investigate the processes and factors that control plant growth and development, and how plants can be manipulated to sustainably satisfy the increasing global demand for crops, food and fuels.

You will learn the mechanisms that plants use to control their growth and development, and how an understanding of these mechanisms enables more efficient production of crop plants that produce greater yields with fewer resources and a reduced environmental impact.

You will learn how to culture plant cells and produce artificial seeds, how to extend the postharvest lives of fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, how plant cells can be used as green chemical factories and how to produce super-plants that can cope with the stresses associated with climate change.

About this paper

Paper title Plant Functional Biology and Biotechnology
Subject Botany
EFTS 0.15
Points 18 points
Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
One of BIOL 112, BIOL 113, BIOL 123, BTNY 111, CELS 191, ECOL 111, HUBS 191, HUBS 192, MARI 112, PTWY 131, PTWY 132 and 18 further points from Science Schedule C
Restriction
BTNY 221
Schedule C
Science
Eligibility

Suitable for undergraduates, graduates and professionals of all disciplines interested in or working with plants or plants-based products.

Contact
botany@otago.ac.nz
Teaching staff

Convener: Associate Professor David Burritt

Lecturer: Associate Professor Paul Guy

Paper Structure

Section I. The Development of Higher Plants: theory and biotechnological applications.

Section II. Plant Metabolism: designing better plants and Plant Responses to Stress: coping with climate change.

Teaching Arrangements

This paper comprises:

  • 22 lectures
  • 3 laboratory experiments (run over 10 weeks)
  • 2 tutorials (run in lecture time)
Textbooks

Taiz, L., Zieger, E., Moller, I. M., & Murphy, A. (2015/2022). Plant Physiology and Development (6th/7th ed.).Sinauer Associates Inc.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Lifelong learning, Critical thinking.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will demonstrate in-depth understanding of the central concepts, theories and current areas of debate.

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