Teaching

At the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences ,  Biotechnology and Crop Science Department, and the Depts. of Horticulture, ARD,  and Soil and Water Sciences I am teaching BSc. and MSc. and PhD courses namely;

BSc Courses:

1. Crop Physiology: Teaching senior students of the Field Crop Dept. at 1st semester of every academic year  for 18 years.

2. Dry Matter Accumulation.

3. Dry Farming.

4. Sustainable Cropping System

MSc Courses:

1. Adv. Dry Matter accumulation. 

2. Adv. Plant Physiology.

3.Adv. Environmental Physiology.

4. Adv. Integrate Farming System

PhD Courses:

1. Adv. Plant Physiology

2. Adv. Stress Physiology

3. Adv. Echophysiology

My Philosophy in Teaching

In order to creation a scientific atmosphere for learning in the class (study hall), and economizing a chance to students to deal with the course in proper way that enable them to critical thinking and to understand the different subjects smoothly, they will be divided to small groups [only (2-3) students]  from the first lecture. There will be a small seminar (not more than 10 min.) prepared by (a group no. 1 for example.)  about the subject (no.1 for example.), and there will be opportunity to all students to ask questions or debate among themselves with lecturer association. In addition to providing additional opportunity for learning,  the application of this method has positively resulted because the participation of students will came from their investigation in the different relative references or from their experiences  in the practical parts of the course which considered as an important  factor for students in FAS.

Example of Course Book for BSc student:

  University Of Sulaimani

  Faculty of Agricultural Sciences

  Department: Crop Science

  Course Subject: Crop Physiology / 4th Year Student

CROP PHYSIOLOGY COURSE BOOK

 List of Lecturer of this Course:

        Name                               Scientific title                 E-mail            ----------                              ----------------------         ---------------------------- 

 1. Dr.Aram Abbas Mohammed        Assist Prof. aramqarakhy@yahoo.com

 2. Shwan Ahmed                           Assist. Lecturer

 Course Over View:

Crop physiology is considered as the study of the ways in which plant physiological processes are to cause whole plant responses in communities, involving botany, chemistry, physics….etc, and is also related to crop science , crop ecology, echophysiology, environmental plant physiology, and stress physiology. Its important comes from:

- To relate key biochemical, physiological, and ecological principles to crop productivity.

- To understand some physical and biological limits to crop yield.

- To use a knowledge of crop physiology to answer practical questions such as:

·        Why do we see great variation in the yield of corn crop and Wheat or barley?

·        Why we see differences in the plant abilities to tolerate stress condition such as heat and drought?

·        How can environmental factors affect plant growth and development?

* The mechanisms of plant adaptations and acclimations to certain environments?

The aims of crop physiology:

_______________________________________

1.  Study of phytochemistry (plant chemistry) is included within the domain of plant physiology. To function and survive, plants produce a wide array of chemical compounds not found in other organisms. Photosynthesis requires a large array of pigments , enzymes, and other compounds to function.

2.   plant physiology includes the study of biological and chemical processes of individual plant cells. For example, plant cells have a cell wall which restricts the shape of plant cells and thereby limits the flexibility and mobility of plants. Plant cells also contain chlorophyll, a chemical compound that interacts with light in a way that enables plants to manufacture their own nutrients rather than consuming other living things as animals do.

3.  plant physiology deals with interactions between cells, tissues, and organs within a plant. Different cells and tissues are physically and chemically specialized to perform different functions. Roots and rhizoids function to anchor the plant and acquire minerals in the soil. Leaves catch light in order to manufacture nutrients.

4.  plant physiologists study the ways that plants control or regulate internal functions. Like animals, plants produce chemicals called hormones which are produced in one part of the plant to signal cells in another part of the plant to respond. Many flowering plants bloom at the appropriate time because of light-sensitive compounds that respond to the length of the night, a phenomenon known as photoperiodism.

5.  plant physiology includes the study of how plants respond to conditions and variation in the environment, a field known as environmental physiology. Stress from water loss, changes in air chemistry, or crowding by other plants can lead to changes in the way a plant functions. These changes may be affected by genetic, chemical, and physical factors.

 Course References :

1.  Text Books available in the College Library:

1. Taize and Zeiger.2004. plant physiology.2nd edition.

2.Taize and Zeiger.2006. plant physiology.4th edition.

3.Evans, LT. Crop Physiology . 1st edition.

4. Opik & Rolfe.2005. The physiology of Flowering plants. 4th edition

2.  Usefull sites:

1.http/ www.plant physiology .

            2.http://www.cwe.wur.nl/UK/education/Crop+Physiology/

            3. http:/www.crops.org

Syllabus

Subjects

Introduction

Plant Water uptake.

Water availability and plant growth.

Transpiration.

Crop water requirement

Photosynthesis(The light dependent reactions

Photosynthesis (Light independent reactions)

Photosynthetic Efficiency and WUE

Environmental Factors effect Photosynthesis.

Respiration – Maintenance Resp. and Photo-Resp. in C3, and C4-plants.

Stress Physiology-Biotic and Abiotic factors.  

Drought and Drought resistance in plants

Plant growth and development

Physiology of growth, examples related to  C3-plant(Wheat) and C4-plant(Maize).

 Important Notice:

In order to creation a scientific atmosphere in the study hall, and economizing a chance to students to deal with the course in proper way that enable them to critical thinking and to understand the different subjects smoothly, they will be divided to small groups [only (2) students]  from the first lecture. There will be a small seminar (not more than 10 min.) prepared by (a group no. 1 for example.)  about the subject (no.1 for example.), and there will be opportunity to all students to ask questions or debate among themselves with lecturer association, or the contribution of group members will limit through short  scientific reports only.

Subjects

1.  Introduction:

 To give the student obvious idea about crop physiology through clear definition of it,  and brief discussion about the important subjects including ( course book), as well as giving examples (as formulas ), for explaining several factors effect crop growth physiology and yield.

2.Plant water up take:

 Explaining the different mechanisms of water uptake  (main driving forces) may require difference discussion related to some unique properties of water which effect the uptake mechanisms, especially :

1. Structure of water molecule and role of hydrogen bonds.

2. Thermal properties of water .

3.Plant Water Requirement: The lecture include:

  1.Water in the soil

  2.Water potential, the idea and Components .

         a. Diffusion and Bulkflow, the laws which account them.

      b. Plasmolysis and Wilting point.

3. Effect of low water potential on the growth and development of the plants

4.Transpiration,. part 1:

 The important process that considered as a complementary effect to the plant water uptake mechanisms, definition, and internal and external factors that adjust the process, include :

1.  Differences between transpiration and evaporation.

2.  Resistances that control it within the leaf and surrounding.

3.  Stomatal conductance.

5. Crop Water requirement.

1. Plant Internal factors that effect transpiration, root-shoot ratio, plant leaf area (LA), Phenological factors.

2. External factors, Temperature, Humidity, and Wind.

3. Determination of the crop water requirement.

4. ETo & ETc and effect of water deficit on yield as Ym & Ya

6.Photosynthesis(The light dependent reactions):

 The most biological process  in the world done by plants or autotrophics, causing maintenance to live, it is consider as solar energy converting to chemical energy, in order to give a wide understanding to students it require:

1.  Detail explanation about the light , types, wave length and energy.

2.  The main equation of photosynthesis.

3.  The light- dependent reactions, products.

7.Photosynthesis (Light independent reactions):

 The energy compounds (which include ATP and NADPH) were produced as a final product of light dependent reactions will involve in the light independent reactions for the CO2 fixation processes. There are differences in the light independent reactions according to plant types C3-plant, C4-plant and CAM-plant. So in addition to Calvin cycle, the lecture include detail discussing of the different three pathways.

8.Photosynthetic Efficiency:

In addition to clear definition of the photosynthetic efficiency, as process,  the lecture include:

a.   Anatomy differences among C3, C4, and CAM plants and the relationship with external factors that effect photosynthesis.

b.  TR% and WUE.

9.Environmental Factors effect Photosynthesis:

1. Light: Light response curve.

2. Temperature

3. CO2

10.Respiration – Maintenance Resp. and Photo-Resp. in C3, and C4-plants.

1.  Respiration as a opposite process to photosynthesis, include:

a.   Glycolysis.

b.  TCA- cyc

2.  Maintenance respiration.

3.  Photorespiration. Include:

a.   Definition.

b.  Negative effect of photorespiration on the plant yield.

11.Stress Physiology-Biotic and Abiotic factors : Includes,

1. plant growth and developments under unfavorable conditions,

         a.  Biotic factors,

         b.  Abiotic factors,

2. Adaptation and Acclimation.

12.Drought and Drought resistance in plants.,

1.      Water Deficit and drought tolerance.

2.      Drought resistance strategies

3.      LA and water deficit.

4.  Water deficit limits photosynthesis.

13.Plant Growth and development:

1.      Plant life cycle from seed to seed., Embryogenesis, Monocots and dicots. The  impact factors on the growth and development:

a.   LAI

b.  Vegetative growth

c.   Reproductive growth

Senescence

14. Physiology of growth, examples related to  C3-plant(Wheat) and C4-plant(Maize).

Important notices about Exam.s:

 1.Answering technique by the student:

1.Our advices to the students are to read and think about the questions deeply before answering.

2. To avoid the wasting of time, we advise students to start answering with the question which (he or she) know the correct answer for it.

3. Type and samples of the exams:

1. Definition:

 Latent Heat of Vaporization. , Water potential idea., Photorespiration., Adaptation., Xerophytes

2.Multiple choice questions. Examples:

a. Bundle Sheath Cells, are:

i. Sunken stomata.

ii. Kranz anatomy related to C4-plants.

iii. Group of cells surround stomata space.

3. Demonstrate with illustrative diagrams:

 1. Effect of light intensity and Light response Curve of C3 andC4 plants.

 2.  C4 – plant  light- independent pathway.

4. True and false questions. Examples:

Answer (in the spaces provided) by (T) for each correct statement,

(F) for each incorrect statement .

 1. Actual water content will vary according to tissue and cell type.

 2. Oxidation of two moles of water generates one mole of Oxygen.

5. Fill in the blanks. Examples:

a. Actual water content will vary according to tissue and cell type, dependent on:

   1-…………………………………….  2-………………………………………..

b. . The idea of Water potential is very usefull at predicting:

 1-……………………………………   2-………………………………………………

6.Explain the reasons which accounts for the followings:

1.  At certain  condition Ψw =Ψs .

2.  In compare to C4-plants,CAM plants synthesis the C4-acids in spatially and temporally differences.