The purpose of this project is to provide the modern laboratory research equipment needed for establishing a contemporary teaching program in Plant Physiology. The improvement plans are the results of an extensive evaluation of the Biology Department by external and internal reviewers. The equipment is being used to create largely an upper-division Plant Physiology course, but some of it also will be used in other upper division courses and in a newly revised Introductory Biology course. The Plant Physiology course stresses techniques and concepts that are unique to plants (photosynthesis, transpiration, water relations), but also includes projects that will familiarize students with generally applicable techniques while illustrating principles in Plant Physiology (spectral analysis of pigments, tissue culture, photomorphogenesis). The laboratory equipment covers experiments with photosynthesis (an oxygen electrode); transpiration (a porometer); water relations (a pressure chamber and psychrometer); tissue culture (a laminar flow hood); spectral analysis (a scanning spectrophoto-meter); and photomorphogenesis (an image analysis system and a thermopile). Students using the equipment learn what types of questions each technique can answer. They then design and carry out their own experiments. It is expected that this experience will increase their appreciation for how science proceeds, as well as for the principles of plant physiology. Many students do laboratory research in their senior year, and many go on to graduate school or medical school. This experience with modern equipment and experiment design should serve them well. This project has the potential for becoming a model in modern plant physiology which other undergraduate institutions might adopt.
