PLSCS 4420 - [Mineral Nutrition: From Plants to Humans]

Spring. Next offered 2017-2018 (offered alternate years). 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: PLBIO 2420, PLBIO 3420 or equivalent, PLBIO 3430 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Co-meets with PLSCS 6420.

L. V. Kochian, O. Vatamaniuk.

Plants provide almost all essential minerals for humans and therefore plants are critical components of the human diet. Plant biologists address challenges of meeting the nutritional needs of the increasing world’s population by studying plants’ ability to uptake, translocate and accumulate mineral nutrients in edible tissues. By integrating basic plant biology with molecular breeding and genomics approaches, fundamental discoveries are utilized to have the greatest impact on solving biofortification of plant-based foods. This team-taught course explores the mechanisms of acquisition of mineral nutrients from the soil, translocation and accumulation in plant tissues, strategies to prevent mineral element deficiencies while avoiding their overload, and toxicity of noxious metals. Selected lectures focus on the relation between the nutrient status of plants and human nutrition and health.

Outcome 1: After completion of the course students are expected to: Understand the impact of mineral deficiencies on plant growth and yield and the impact of poor mineral nutrition on human health.

Outcome 2: Describe transport pathways and their regulatory components that control uptake of minerals from the soil solution, their radial transport, root-to-shoot partitioning and grain filling.

Outcome 3: Understand the rationale behind designing nutrient solution for different plant species.

Outcome 4: Understand approaches and scientific basis behind approaches for crop biofortification.

Outcome 5: Analyze original scientific literature, design and communicate scientific presentation.