Environmental Management of Mountain Areas (EMMA)
Nature conservation and management
APPLIED BOTANY
Prof. Dr. Camilla Wellstein
Faculty of Agricultural,
Environmental and Food Sciences
camilla.wellstein@unibz.it
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2022/2023
Applied Botany
Plants in the environment
Plant ecology
Site ecology
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Plant ecology
Plant organization and functions
• Plant organs
• Plant tissues
• Photosynthesis
Plant ecology
• Abiotic and biotic factors
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Plant
Kormophytes (=vascular plants)
Kormus = form of organisation of „higher“ plants
3 basic organs:
1. stem
2. leaf
3. root
Modular organization of plants
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Basic plant organs
Main functions of basic organs of vascular plants
Leaf:
Photosynthesis and transpiration
apex
leaf
Stem:
Root:
Positioning of leafs and flowers in space
Transport of substances (water, nutrients,
assimilates, secondary compounds)
nodes; internodes
storage, dispersal
Uptake of water and nutrients; anchorage;
branching; augmentation of the surface;
storage; dispersal
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bud
cotyledon
stem
side root
main root
Kormus from Nultsch
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is a delimited part of
the plant that bears the flowers
and terminates growth after flowering
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Flower
Gynoeceum: female part of the flower
Ovary
Style
Stigma
Androeceum: male part of the flower
Anther (pollen sac)
Filament
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Leaf
P 39 AgrB
Example:
Upper edpidermis
Palisadenparenchym mit bis zu ca. 50 %
der Blattchloroplasten
Palisade parenchyma
(Assimilationsgewebe)
Schwammparenchym:
Transpirationsgewebe
zur Erleichterung der Diffusion von
CO2 parenchyma
Spongy
und Wasser
Lower edpidermis
Vascular bundles
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Root
Rhizoderm = Epiderm of the root
Augmentation of surface by root hairs
Plant performance (e.g. rye)
> 10 billions of root hairs
10.000 km total length
20 x 20 m total surface
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Specialized tissue
The epidermis forms
the outer hull of the
plant
The vascular bundles allow
movement of water and
solouble compounds
leaf
epidermis
parenchyma
vascular bundles
The parenchyma is responsible
for photosynthesis, storage and
reinforcement
stem
root
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epidermis
parenchyma
vascular
bundles
epidermis
parenchyma
vascular
bundles
Types of tissue
Meristem
Specialized tissue
Undifferentiated
(embryonal) cells,
ability of cell
division
Differentiated cells,
no division,
specialization
Re‐embryonalization of cells
(secondary meristem)
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Meristem
Apical meristem
Cambium ring
Internodial
Meristems
(monocots)
Kull, U.: Grundriss der Allgemeinen Botanik. 2. Aufl. 2000/2006, Spektrum/Schweizerbart
Lüttge, U., Kluge, M., Bauer, G.: Botanik. 5. Aufl. 2005, Weinheim etc.: Wiley‐VCH
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Apical meristem
Apex of the stem
(longitudinal section)
Apex of the root
(longitudinal section)
Primary root tip of radish (Raphanus
sativus). Files of cells extend forward
from the centre of the apex to form
the root cap, and backwards to form
the main root tissues.
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(Based on Raven et al. 1992)
Photosynthesis
Light
Light as well as absorbing pigments are needed for photosynthesis. Light is a form of
electromagnetic radiation. Visible light is a combination of different wave lengths which we
perceive as different colours in the range from 380 ‐ 750 nm. Every wave length is associated
with a specific photon. Generally, shorter wave length have more energy.
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Photosynthesis
Light assorbing pigments in photosynthesis
Chlorophyll is the primary absorbing pigment.
Plants have two forms of Chlorophyll (a, b).
Important accessory pigments are Carotenes.
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Photosynthesis
Chlorophyll
(CO2 + water + light energy -----> glucose + water + O2)
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Plant ecology
Plant organization and functions
• Plant organs
• Plant tissues
• Photosynthesis
Plant ecology
• Abiotic and biotic factors
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Plant ecology
Ecology
The scientific study of interactions between different organisms
and between organisms and their environment or surroundings.
Plant Ecology
Example:
Rumex aetnensis
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Abiotic and biotic factors
Light
Water
Chemical factors
Warmth
Pollination agent
Stress
Disturbance
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Site ecology
Pedosphere
Lithosphere
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Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Applied Botany
Plants in the environment
Plant ecology
Site ecology
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