Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotyping
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
BI1339-10352 - 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 2024/2025
Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotyping (BI1339-10182)
2024-09-02 - 2024-10-31
Academic year 2023/2024
Experimental approaches in plant growth analysis and phenotyping (BI1339-10154)
2023-08-28 - 2023-10-30
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
Grading criteria
SLU BI1339 – Grading criteria 2022
Grading scale: 5: Pass with Distinction; 4: Pass with Credit; 3: Pass; U: Fail
Half of the course consists of lectures/seminars/exercises and half of the course is project work. The first part is mostly linked to the intended learning outcomes (ILOs) 1-3 (see below) and is examined through a written or oral exam. The project component is mostly linked to ILOs 4-5 (see below) and examined through an assessment of the student's work, written group project report, and oral group project presentation.
To pass the course, the grades of the exam and the project work need to be either equal or greater than 3 (i.e., both parts of the course need to be passed). The final grade is the rounded value of the mean of the grades for the exam and the project work.
Participation in the compulsory activities (including the seminars) is required to pass the course (for grade 3). If a student is absent, the student should get in contact with the teacher responsible for the missed part to discuss a make-up task. This task should be carried out independently and handed in as a written report in order to achieve a pass, in agreement with the teacher responsible for that part.
Grading criteria for the written or oral exam(s)
The written or oral exam(s) will examine the student's knowledge of the topics covered during the course lectures and seminars, thus testing primarily whether the student has met the following three ILOs (listed on the course syllabus):
1) describe the basic methods for measuring and assessing the growth of plants
2) describe the basic principles of growth modelling of plants
3) evaluate different quantitative methods for measuring structural and functional plant properties
in modern phenotyping facilities.
The final grade of the written or oral exam(s) will be determined as follows:
Grade 5: Achievement of at least 85 % of the maximum score of the whole exam.
Grade 4: Achievement of at least 70 % of the maximum score of the whole exam.
Grade 3: Achievement of at least 55 % of the maximum score of the whole exam.
Grading criteria for the project work
The assessment of the project work primarily aims at determining whether the student has met the following ILOs (listed on the course syllabus):
4) independently implement simple methods for plant growth analysis
5) 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).
The following weights will be used to evaluate the different aspects of the project work: the student's work during the course (30%), the final written report (50%) and the oral presentation together with the mini-documentary produced during the project work (20%).
(Percentages refer to the grading of the project work only. The project work grade is then averaged with the written exam grade, as specified above)
Evaluation of the student's work in the project (30%)
The student's work will be assessed based on the student's participation in the discussion on the experimental work, independence regarding data analysis and report writing.
Grade 5: The student leads the discussion regarding the experimental work and actively participates in the work. The student independently performs the data analyses and writes the report.
Grade 4: The student actively participates in the discussion regarding the experimental work and actively participates in the work. The student actively discuss data analyses and writes the report with minimal support from the tutor.
Grade 3: The student participates in the discussion regarding the experimental work and actively participates in the experimental work. The student performs data analyses and writes the report with support from the tutor.
Evaluation of the written project report (50%)
The project written report will be graded to assess the student's ability to explain the connection between the project work and the state of the art (building on literature review, course lectures and seminars), to present the experiment and its design (what was done), as well as the demonstrated analytical understanding and reflections (why/how it was done) and writing quality (form and language).
Grade 5: Demonstrate advanced understanding of the subject through application in project work and thorough review of relevant scientific literature. Provide original, significant and correct analysis of data with respect to the main hypotheses of the project work. Provide insightful and thorough discussion of the results of project work. Use existing scientific literature to place project results in the context of current published theory. Good use of figures and graphics combined with concise text in proper scientific tone without errors in grammar or spelling. Appropriate referencing to existing literature.
Grade 4: Demonstrate adequate understanding of the connections between the state of the art and the application in project work, with a review of relevant scientific literature. Provide correct and significant analysis of data with respect to the main hypothesis of the project work. Provide discussion of the results of project work. Use existing scientific literature to place project results in the context of previously published theory. Good use of figures and graphics combined with concise text in proper scientific tone. Appropriate referencing to existing literature.
Grade 3: Demonstrate a limited understanding of the connections between the state of the art and the application in project work, with a limited review of relevant scientific literature. Provide correct analysis of data with respect to the main hypothesis of the project work. Discussion of the results of project work with minimal referencing to existing literature. Use correctly figures and graphics combined with concise text.
Evaluation of oral presentation of the project work (20%)
The oral presentation will be assessed for clarity of the presentation.
Grade 5: Presents clearly, in a well-structured way, and in a scientifically appropriate tone the project hypotheses, methods, main results, and their implications. Excellent management of time. Responds to questions from the audience.
Grade 4: Presents clearly and in a well-structured way the project hypotheses, methods, main results, and their implications. Good management of time
Grade 3: Presents the project hypotheses, methods and main results.