BIOL 4426 - Plant and Human Nutrition

Two hours lecture. Four case study and hours laboratory per week. Four credit hours.

Plant nutrition refers to needs and uses of the basic chemical elements in the plants, which are essential for plant growth and development. Thus, plant nutrition is an area of fundamental importance for both basic sciences (Plant physiology, Plant cell and molecular biology, Plant development) and applied sciences (Agronomy, Crop physiology, Horticulture, Human nutrition and health). Human nutrition refers to the needs and uses of the basic chemical elements and compounds in the human body, which are essential for human development and healthy life. This course will focus on (1) Plant nutrients; (2) The uptake and transport of mineral nutrients in plants; (3) Functions of mineral nutrients in the growth and development of plants; (4) Nutrient deficiency and toxicity; (5) Uptake, transport and functions of mineral nutrients in human body; (6) Plant nutrients and their relationships to the human health; (7) Functional foods; and (80 Green Medicine. This course is designed for students who want to pursue a degree or update their knowledge in areas of plants sciences, agriculture, food science and human nutrition. Dual listed in the Graduate Catalog as BIOL 5426.

Prerequisites: BIOL 1401, BIOL 2402 and BIOL 2403.