1. Basic terms

Phytohormone, growth regulator. Types of phytohormones. Theory of hormonal regulation of plant growth and development. Methods in phytohormone research. Mechanisms of action of phytohormones, signaling cascades.

2. Auxins

Discovery of auxins in plants. Physiological effects of auxins. Chemical structure and properties of auxins and antiauxins. Metabolism of auxins (biosynthesis, conjugation and release from conjugates, degradation). Regulation of internal concentration of auxins. Transport of auxins, polarity, translocation across the plasma membrane, carriers, inhibitors of polar auxin transport. Transduction of auxin signal, receptors, signalling pathways, gene expression, ubiquitination. Transgenic plants in respect to auxins. Cross-talk with other hormones. Methods of extraction and determination of auxins.

3. Cytokinins

Discovery of cytokinins in plants. Physiological effects of cytokinins. Chemical structure and properties of cytokinins (isoprenoid, aromatic, urea-type) and anticytokinins. Metabolism of cytokininins (biosynthesis, conjugation and release from conjugates, degradation). Regulation of internal concentration of cytokinins. Transport of cytokinins. Transduction of cytokinin signal, receptors, signalling pathways. Transgenic plants in respect to cytokinins. Cross-talk with other hormones. Methods of extraction and determination of cytokinins.

4. Gibberellins

Discovery of gibberellins in plants. Chemical structure and properties of gibberellins. Metabolism of gibberellins (biosynthesis, mutual interconversion, conjugation and release from conjugates, degradation). Mechanisms of action of gibberellins - signal transduction, effect on gene expression. Physiological effects of gibberellins - role of mutants in their research. Cross-talk with other hormones. Methods of extraction and determination of gibberellins.

5. Abscisic acid

Discovery of abscisisc acid (ABA) in plants. Chemical structure and properties of ABA. Metabolism of ABA (biosynthesis, conjugation and release from conjugates, degradation). Mechanisms of action of ABA - signal transduction, effect on gene expression, antagonism with gibberellins. Physiological effects of ABA - role of mutants in their research. ABA as a stress hormone. Cross-talk with other hormones. Methods of extraction and determination of ABA.

6. Ethylene

Discovery of ethylene as plant hormone. Chemical structure and properties of ethylene. Ethylene as a gaseous hormone - compartmentation in plant tissues. Metabolism of ethylene (biosynthesis, degradation and conjugation of its precursor). Mechanisms of action of ethylene - receptors, signal transduction, effect on gene expression. Physiological effects of ethylene - role of mutants in their research. Ethylene and stress. Cross-talk with other hormones. Methods of ethylene determination.

7. Brassinosteroids, strigolactones

Discovery of brassinosteroids and strigolactones. Chemical structure and properties of these substances. Metabolism (biosynthesis and degradation). Mechanisms of action - signal transduction. Physiological effects. Cross-talk with other hormones. Methods of determination.

8. Salicylic acid, jasmonic acid

Discovery of salicylic acid (SA) as plant hormone. Discovery of jasmonic acid (JA). Chemical structures and properties of SA and JA. Metabolism of SA and JA (biosynthesis, conjugation and release from conjugates, degradation). Mechanisms of action of SA and JA - signal transduction, effect on gene expression, and antagonism of signalling pathways activated after attack from biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens. Physiological effects. Cross-talk with other hormones. Methods of extraction and determination.

9. Peptide hormones

Discovery of particular peptide hormones (25 at present). Their chemical structure and properties. Mechanism of action and physiological functions (defence against pathogens and herbivores, regulation of growth and development, namely regulation of reproduction, nodulation and abscission). Cross-talk with other hormones.