AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
Department of 
Faculty of Crop Science

Functional Plant Anatomy

Content

THEORY Section I. Introduction Chapter 1 Modern microscopes and the information derived from them Chapter 2 The morphology and anatomy of the organs of each plant species is related to its position in the scale of evolution Section II. The cells: Structural and functional units Chapter 3 3.1. Plant cells have common characteristics 3.2. The cytoplasm 3.3. Biological membranes 3.4. The cell wall 3.5. Chloroplasts and mitochondria 3.6. The nucleus 3.7. The proliferation of any species presupposes the transmission of the nuclear genetic information from generation to generation 3.8. The ribosomes 3.9. Microsomes 3.10. The endoplasmic reticulum 3.11. The reticulum 3.12. The cytoskeleton 3.13. The vacuole 3.14. The lysosomes 3.15. The cellular inclusions Section III. Cells make up tissues and tissues make up organs Chapter 4 4.1. The plant body consists of meristematic and permanent tissues 4.2. The totipotency of plant cells allows the generation of tissues from adherent cells 4.3. The activation of meristematic tissues determines the type of growth of each plant species and therefore also the duration of its biological cycle 4.4. The meristem tissues 4.5. The permanent tissues Chapter 5 5.1. All species of spermatophytes are composed of distinct organs 5.2. The individual organs have distinct roles Chapter 6 Introduction: Functions of leaves 6.1. Three basic design patterns of spermatophyte leaves have been formed through evolution 6.2. The arrangement of the tissues and cells of a leaf is directly related to the function they offer 6.3. Leaf growth is mainly basipetal 6.4. Chimeras are due to abnormalities that occur during leaf development 6.5. Adaptation of leaves to adverse conditions 6.6. Adaptation to extreme or special conditions: The transformations of leaves 6.7. Acclimation of leaves to different growth conditions Chapter 7 Introduction: Functions of the root 7.1. Through evolution, two main design patterns of spermatophyte roots have been formed 7.2. The root is composed of specialized tissues which are distributed in distinct anatomical zones along its axis 7.3. Root tissues in cross-section in the region of differentiation have a specific arrangement 7.4. Root tissues in cross-section in the region of secondary growth are characterized by the presence of cambium and epidermis 7.5. Acclimation of roots to different growth conditions: Roots react to changes in soil environmental conditions 7.6. The adaptation of roots to special or extreme conditions 7.7. Roots through evolution have developed symbiotic relationships with microorganisms Chapter 8 Introduction: Functions of the stem 8.1. The formation of the shoot is closely related to the gradual transition of plant organisms during the evolution from the aquatic to the terrestrial environment 8.2. The stem is composed of specialized tissues which are distributed in distinct anatomical zones along its axis 8.3. Through evolution, two main design patterns of spermatophyte shoots have been formed 8.4. The area of the secondary structure refers to the increase in thickness of the shoots 8.5. Adaptation to extreme or special conditions: The transformations of the shoots Chapter 9 Introduction: Functions of flowers, seeds and fruits 9.1. Spermatophytes reproduce through two alternative processes 9.2. Male and female cones are the organs of intrinsic reproduction of gymnosperms 9.3. Flowers are the organs of intrinsic reproduction of angiosperms 9.4. Pollination is a critical stage of reproduction 9.5. Embryogenesis is the process by which embryos arise 9.6. The gradual development of the embryo is also accompanied by the maturation of the seed 9.7. Fruits are extremely diverse LABORATORY Exercise 1 - The common compound microscope and the plant cell Exercise 2 - Primary anatomy of the root Exercise 3 - Primary anatomy of the shoot Exercise 4 - Anatomy of the leaf Exercise 5 - Reproduction of angiosperms - Flowers, seeds, fruits

Learning results

The first part of the course provides a historical review of the evolution of microscopes, provides interpretation of images obtained by different types of microscopes and also refers to the importance of evolution in shaping the structures of plant species. The second section presents the structure and function of typical plant cells, the third section presents the structure and function of plant tissues, and the fourth section presents the structure and function of plant organs. The course aims for students to learn the levels of organization of a plant organism (cells-tissues-organs) with special emphasis on structure-function relationships, so that they acquire the background knowledge required by a series of courses (especially of productive laboratories) that will be taught in the following years of the study program.

Bibliography

Functional Plant Anatomy. 2014. G. Aivalakis, G. Karabourniotis, G. Liakopoulos, C. Fasseas. EMBRYO Publications (in Greek). Mauseth James D. Βοτανική. 2020. Broken Hill Publishers. Plant Anatomy. 2014. N.S. Christodoulakis. Kiriakidis Publications (in Greek). Morphology and Anatomy of Plants. 2011. I. Tsekos, I. Ilias. Perpinia Publications (in Greek).

Faculty

+30 2105294289
gliak@aua.gr
Agriculturist, bachelor and PhD graduate of the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, AUA. His primary research topic is photosynthesis under stress.

NEWSLETTER

The Faculty of Crop Science of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), was founded in June 1989 (Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic Νο. 166Α΄/16-6-1989) it is the first University Faculty of Crop Science founded in Greece
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