B1830 - Biochemistry of Soil/Plant Interaction

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the chemical and biochemical processes that regulate the soil-plant interaction; he is able to understand, at the molecular level, the mechanisms that regulate the activity of the soil surfaces, of the soil-plant interfaceroot, the processes that govern the radical absorption of the elements, the processes that regulate the mobility of nutrients from the colloidal surfaces of the soil through the simplasto and apoplasto.

Course contents

BIOCHEMISTRY OF SOIL-PLANT INTERACTION

(Master's Degree in Plant Agricultural Biotechnology)

MODULE 1. SOIL BIOCHEMISTRY (30 hours – Dott.ssa Martina Mazzon)

1.1 Soil constituents (4 hours)

Mineral constituents (minerals, silicates, phyllosilicate structure, oxides and hydroxides, carbonates).

Organic constituents: organic matter, classification and outline of transformation and stabilization processes.

1.2 Physical and chemical properties of the soil (4 hours)

Surface properties (specific surface area and origin of charges), adsorption and ion exchange.

Soil reaction: definition of soil pH, active and exchangeable acidity, soil classification based on pH, pH and nutrients.

1.3 The microbial component (12 hours)

Microorganisms in soil: microbial biomass and microbiome-plant interactions, activity, respiration and microbial-functional indices

Soil enzymes: definition, classification, localization and enzymatic catalysis.

Enzymes involved in the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles: definition of the main enzymatic activities and their interpretation.

Enzymes as indicators of soil quality: environmental factors, enzymes and detoxification, determination and interpretation of related indices.

1.4 Analytical procedures and interpretation of results (10 hours)

Analytical methods for the determination of: soil reaction (pH), total limestone, carbon and nitrogen (extractable and microbial), available phosphorus, enzymatic activities.

Case study: statistical analysis of a dataset representing a case study and draft a final report.

MODULE 2. SOIL-PLANT INTERACTION (30 HOURS – Prof. Claudio Marzadori)

2.1 Nutrients and short distance transport (6 hours)

Soil fertility and the threats that undermine it

The essential nutrients in soil and the concept of NUE

Mechanisms of short-distance radical transport and absorption: biochemical and molecular aspects

2.2 Availability and mobility of nutrients in the soil (8 hours)

Chemical properties of soil and factors affecting nutrients mobility

Main transport mechanisms of nutrients in the Bulk Soil and in the rhizosphere

Radical strategies to increase the absorption of elements that are not very mobile

Introduction to the concept of rhizosphere

2.3 Rhizo-depositions and chemical properties of the rhizosphere (8 hours)

Definition of rhizosphere

Rhizodepositions: qualitative and quantitative aspects

Effects of rhizodepositions on rhizosphere formation

Chemical properties of the rhizosphere, regulation of rhizospheric pH and ion mobility in the rhizosphere

Management of rhizosphere properties and nutrients availability

2.4 The fundamental nutrients (8 hours)

The nitrogen cycle in the soil and root uptake: biochemical and molecular aspects

Soil phosphate and root uptake of phosphate: biochemical and molecular aspects

Soil iron and iron uptake strategies: biochemical and molecular aspects

Readings/Bibliography

Slides of the lessons that will be uploaded at the beginning of the course and materials provided by the teachers

Teaching methods

lectures and laboratory activity

Assessment methods

Oral examination held by the two teachers holding the modules. During the interviews questions will be asked about the program held in the classroom.

Teaching tools

Slides provided by the teachers and teaching laboratories present at the teaching site

Office hours

See the website of Claudio Marzadori

See the website of Martina Mazzon