Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotyping
Information from the course leader
The course consists of a theory part (7.5 credits) and a project part (7.5 credits), but both parts run over the entire course period. The theory part consists of lectures and seminars that will be offered only online (via zoom), which makes it possible to study this part remotely. All practical elements of the project work will take place on site at SLU Ultuna campus.
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
BI1339-10182 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for BI1339
Academic year 2023/2024
Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotyping (BI1339-10154)
2023-08-28 - 2023-10-30
Academic year 2022/2023
Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotyping (BI1339-10352)
2022-08-29 - 2022-10-31
Academic year 2019/2020
Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotyping (BI1339-10125)
2019-09-02 - 2019-10-31
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
BI1339 Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotyping, 15.0 Credits
Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotypingSubjects
Agricultural Science Biology Biology Agricultural scienceEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
Title | Credits | Code |
---|---|---|
Project work | 7.5 | 0101 |
Written exam | 7.5 | 0102 |
Do not use | 7.5 | 0103 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits at basic level, including90 ECTS biology or
30 ECTS biology + 60 ECTS forestry incl. 15 ECTS chemistry or
30 ECTS biology + 60 ECTS horticulture incl. 15 ECTS chemistry
30 ECTS biology + 60 ECTS agricult. science incl. 15 ECTS chemistry
and
English 6
Objectives
The aim of the course is to provide an in-depth overview of the basic methods for measuring and assessing growth and physiology of plants, applying some of these methods in a practical project work, and give an overview of quantitative methods for the measurement of structural and functional plant properties (so called phenotyping) in modern phenotyping facilities.
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
describe the basic methods for measuring and assessing the growth of plants
independently implement simple methods for plant growth analysis
independently plan, implement and assess scientific experiments focusing on the growth of plants in relation to the surrounding environment (plant-environment and plant-plant interaction)
describe the basic principles of growth modeling of plants
evaluate different quantitative methods for measuring structural and functional plant properties in modern phenotyping facilities
Content
•Lectures
Seminars (obligatory)
Projekt work (obligatory)
Exercises (obligatory)
Own studies
Examination and evaluation
•The course deals with the basic methods for measuring and assessing growth and physiology of plants in relation to the surrounding environment (plant-environment and plant-plant interaction), training the students’ ability to apply some of these methods in practical project work, provide a basic understanding of plant growth modeling, and an overview of automated methods to rapidly measure structural and functional plant properties (so called phenotyping) in modern plant phenotyping facilities.
Topics covered by this course are:
Growth analysis and functional physiology of agricultural and forest plants
Plant-environment and plant-plant interaction
Experimental design and basic statistics for the analysis of scientific results
Growth modeling of plants
Modern phenotyping methods for plants, i.e. technical solutions for rapid and automated quantification of structural and functional plant properties in large quantities of plant individuals.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Passed written or oral examinations, active participation in compulsory seminars and exercises, oral and written reporting of project work.
The course contains mandatory elements (seminars, exercises, project work)
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
The course is given in the Faculty-General Master’s Program in Plant Biology for Sustainable Production. The course consists of a theory part (7.5 credits) and a project part (7.5 credits), but both parts run over the entire course period. The theory part consists of lectures and seminars that will be offered only online (via zoom), which makes it possible to study this part remotely. All practical elements of the project work will take place on site at SLU Ultuna campus.Responsible department
Department of Crop Production Ecology
Further information
Litterature list
Course literature
BI1339 – Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotyping, 15 hp
Course leader: Martin Weih (martin.weih@slu.se)
The main course literature will be Lambers H, Chapin FS III, Pons TL (2008), Plant Physiological Ecology, Springer. An online version of this book is available from the SLU library at https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-0-387-78341-3
Reference will be made to specific chapters of the main course literature by the teachers responsible for each teaching unit, through the course Canvas page.
In addition to the above course literature, other sources will be part of the course literature. In some cases, supporting (more basic) readings and additional (more advanced) readings will be listed (and clearly indicated) at the course Canvas page**. **All compulsory literature will be made available to the students enrolled through the course Canvas page.
The additional course literature includes the following titles (selection):
Araus JL, Kefauver SC (2018) Breeding to adapt agriculture to climate change: affordable phenotyping solutions. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 45, 237-247.
Chawade A, Van Ham J, Blomquist H, Bagge O, Alexandersson E, Ortiz R (2019) High-Throughput Field-Phenotyping Tools for Plant Breeding and Precision Agriculture. Agronomy 2019, 9, 258.
Connolly J, Wayne P, Bazzaz FA (2001) Interspecific Competition in Plants: How Well Do Current Methods Answer Fundamental Questions? The American Naturalist 157: 107-125.
Fiorani F, Schurr U (2013) Future Scenarios for Plant Phenotyping. Annual Review of Plant Biology 64:1, 267-291.
Fowler J, Cohen L, Jarvis P () Practical Statistics for Field Biology. Wiley.
Golzarian M, Frick R, Rajendran K, Berger B, Roy S, et al. 2011. Accurate inference of shoot biomass from high-throughput images of cereal plants. Plant Methods 7:2
Larcher W (2003) Physiological Plant Ecology, Springer, p. 111-119.
Poorter H, Niinemets Ü, Walter A, Fiorani F, Schurr U. 2010. A method to construct dose–response curves for a wide range of environmental factors and plant traits by means of a meta-analysis of phenotypic data. J. Exp. Bot. 61:2043–55
Weih M, Westerbergh A, Lundquist P-O (2017), Role of nutrient-efficient plants for improving crop yields: bridging plant ecology, physiology, and molecular biology, Hossain MA et al (Eds), Plant macronutrient use efficiency – Molecular and genomic perspectives in crop plants, Elsevier, p. 31-44.
Please note that all compulsory literature will be made available to the students enrolled through the course Canvas page.