Course: Anatomy, Histology and Embryology of Plants

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Course title Anatomy, Histology and Embryology of Plants
Course code KBI/AHEA
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 1
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Ovečka Miroslav, prof. Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Structure, basic parts, functions and development of the plant body. Introduction to the organization of multicellular vascular plants. The principle of cell organization into tissues and organs. The concept of meristems as the basis of continuous plant development. Structural differences between monocots and dicots. 2. The principle and various types of interactions in a multicellular organism. Types of cells and their mutual association. The cell wall as a barrier, but also as a mediator of intercellular interactions. Primary, secondary cell wall, architecture and method of expansion. Plasmodesmata and intercellular spaces. 3. Basic types of tissues, structural and functional division into covering, vascular and basic tissues. Anatomical principle of organization of parenchymatous, collenchymatous and sclerenchymatous tissues. Structure of the cell wall, physiological and metabolic parameters of individual tissue types with respect to their distribution in the plant organism. 4. Basic organization of vascular tissues. Xylem, types of xylem cells, primary and secondary xylem. Differentiation of tracheids and tracheary elements, degradation of the primary cell wall and programmed cell death. Phloem, types and specialization of phloem cells. Structure and differentiation of reticulate and companion cells of angiosperms, and reticulate cells in gymnosperms. Vascular bundles, types, structure, arrangement in the root and stem. Vascular cambium, structure, organization and seasonal changes in activity. Formation of secondary vascular tissues. 5. Integumentary tissue system. Arrangement of epidermal cells, their basic functions. Specialized epidermal cells of the aboveground and underground parts of the plant. Anatomical and histological structure of leaves. Stomata, trichomes, external secretory and defense structures. Differentiation of cells in the root epidermis, differentiation of root hairs and their specialized type of growth. 6. Meristems. Differentiation of apical meristems, their embryonic origin. Primary and secondary meristems. Apical meristem of the stem, organization and cyto-histological zonation, preservation of identity and continuity, apical initials. Vegetative meristem, origin and establishment of leaf primordia and lateral shoots. Primary tissues of the stem, primary and secondary growth of the stem and root. 7. Organization of the root apex. Basic radial and longitudinal zonation. Zones of proliferation, expansion and differentiation of cells. Growth apex, root cap and primary apical meristems. Specification of cell lineages. Primary root growth and secondary thickening. Root branching. Establishment and development of lateral roots, types of root systems. 8. Embryogenesis and sexual reproduction of plants. Vegetative and generative cycles of seed plants, the concept of sporophyte and gametophyte. Flower, floral meristems, basic structural and functional organization of plant generative organs. Asexual reproduction of plants. 9. Development of sex cells I. Male gametophyte, microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis. Development and structure of stamens and anthers. Stages of pollen development, regulation of meiosis and cytokinesis, function of tapetum. Pollen grain. 10. Development of sex cells II. Female gametophyte, macrosporogenesis and macrogametogenesis. Structure of pistil, stigma and carpel, development and organization of carpels. Embryo sac and ovule of angiosperms, organization of the embryo sac. 11. Pollination and fertilization. Interaction of pollen with stigma, pollen germination and growth of pollen tube. Compatible and incompatible reactions. Double fertilization in angiosperms. Zygote, embryo development, proembryo, suspensor, embryo differentiation. Endosperm, structure, function, types. Structure of seeds and fruits, dormancy. Embryogenesis of monocots and dicots. 12. Special cell types and tissues, secretory structures, plant organ modifications, symbiotic structures.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to introduce in the complex form the basic organization of the plant body in terms of anatomy and histology, with emphasis to the processes of embryonic development of plants and generative reproduction. Information will be provided with regard to current trends in experimental plant biology.
Students will gain a broad base of knowledge about the cellular, tissue and organ organization of the plant body, the stages of generative reproduction and embryo differentiation.
Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam

Participation and successful completion of a written examination test form with a minimum of 70% of earned points
Recommended literature
  • Beck BCH. (2010). An introduction to plant structure and development. Plant anatomy for the twenty-first century. Cambridge.
  • Bobák M. a kol.. (1992). Botanika. Anatómia amorfológia rastlín. Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo Bratislava.
  • Erdelská, O. (1981). Embryológia krytosemenných rastlín. Bratislava.
  • Evert, R. F., Eichhorn, S. E., & Esau, K. (2006). Esau's plant anatomy : meristems, cells, and tissues of the plant body : their structure, function, and development. Hoboken, N.J.
  • Nels R. Lersten NR. (2004). Flowering plant embryology: With emphasis on economic species.
  • Vinter,V. (2009). Rostliny pod mikroskopem (Základy anatomie cévnatých rostlin). Olomouc.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (2026) Category: Chemistry courses 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Summer