Course: Studying plants and fungi belowground

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Course title Studying plants and fungi belowground
Course code KBO/432E
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Lesson
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Frequency of the course In academic years starting with an even year (e.g. 2020/2021), in the summer semester.
Semester -
Number of ECTS credits 5
Language of instruction English
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Course availability The course is available to visiting students
Lecturer(s)
  • Šmilauerová Marie, doc. RNDr. Ph.D.
  • Šmilauer Petr, doc. RNDr. Ph.D.
  • Klimešová Jitka, RNDr. CSc.
  • Pecháčková Sylvie, RNDr. Ph.D.
  • Vašutová Martina, Mgr. Ph.D.
  • Košnar Jiří, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Participants form small groups and each such group works on several "mini-projects". Practicals are complemented with theoretical overview of the state-of-art in research of root systems and mycorrhizal symbiosis, including presentation of the most influential papers in this research field. This course is taught in two extended weekends separated by a month, allowing a greenhouse experiment to take place in-between. Content of lectures: Importance of roots and rhizomes, their anatomy and morphology. Overview of important root parameters and traits and how to measure them. Plant architecture in the belowground. Mycorrhizal symbiosis - differences among individual types, ecological importance, sampling and quantification methods. Field vs. greenhouse experiments - pros and cons. Content of practical: Following methods will be included: sampling soil with corer, isolation of root biomass; excavation of rhizome and root systems of individual plants; clean-up of root samples, measuring root length and SRL; quantifying root architecture with topological approach; staining and quantifying mycorrhizal infection

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified
Learning outcomes
Students learn basic methods of sampling and analysis of plant belowground organs, with a focus on grassland ecosystems.

Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of plant anatomy and morphology

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
Students should actively participate in all parts, analyse data for their miniprojects and present the results and also present a published research paper focusing on its adopted methods
Recommended literature
  • A. Eshel, T. Beeckman [eds]. (2013): Plant roots; the hidden half. Fourth Edition. CRC Press..
  • A.H. Fitter (1987): An architectural approach to the comparative ecology of plant root systems. New Phytologist, 106: 61-77.
  • A.L. Smit et al. [eds] (2000): Root methods. A handbook. Springer.
  • H. de Kroon et E.J.W. Visser [eds] (2003) Root ecology. Springer..


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester