240029 Molecular Plant Breeding

Details
Responsible DepartmentDepartment of Agriculture and Ecology

Earliest Possible YearMSc. 1 year
DurationOne block
 
Credits15 (ECTS)
 
Level of CourseMSc
 
ExaminationFinal Examination

oral examination


All aids allowed

Description of Examination: Oral examination based on case reports and course curriculum

Weight: Oral examination: 100%



7-point scale, internal examiner
 
Organisation of Teaching25 % lectures and discussion classes, 75 % for practical activities and cases. Students work in groups of 2-4 persons
 
Block PlacementBlock 3
Week Structure: A

Block 3
Week Structure: C
 
Language of InstructionEnglish
 
Optional Prerequisites240039 
240007 
250028 
240066 
or similar courses
 
RestrictionsNone
 
Course Content
This course comprises the use of technologies and strategies for future modification of important cultured plants to meet the demands for environmentally sustainable production of food, feed, industrial raw material and ornamentals of high quality. Some of the most important methods are presented by which plants can be modified and how the best lines can be selected. The students will see that molecular plant breeding is demand-driven, and that often great creativity is required in order to fulfill these demands, while in other cases well-described procedures can be followed to reach the goals. The course predicts future needs for modification of important cultivated plants to meet the demands for high, efficient and environmentally sustainable production of food, feed, industrial raw material and ornamentals of top quality. Molecular breeding employs molecular genetic markers and genomics for allele-selection (SSR, SNP, MAS, proteomics) to explore natural variation, and mutant and transgene technologies (TILLING, Eco-tilling, GMO) to expand the natural variation and for targeted solutions. Bioinformatics is important in general when designing strategies for plant improvement. Teaching will be research based with case projects in small student groups in major areas of research:
. Plant genetic resources (mutants, landraces, wild relative, synteny etc)
. Molecular breeding for disease resistance (natural, mutant and trans-genes)
. Yield improvement through tolerance to abiotic stress (drought, salt, cold etc)
. Quality improvement of food and feed (P, Fe, Zn, fibre and cell walls, allergy)
. Modification for industrial purposes (starch, fibre, reduce growth promoter in greenhouses)
 
Teaching and learning Methods
A mixture of lectures for overviews and four two-week practical laboratory cases for small student groups in ongoing research areas. This is described in a written report. These activities are complemented by journal clubs and discussions on specifically relevant themes
 
Learning Outcome
The general aim of the course is to give an awareness of the principles of molecular plant breeding.

After completing the course the students should be able to:
Knowledge:
- Describe the theoretical basis for molecular plant breeding, such as genetic markers, linkage analysis, marker-assisted selection, allele variation, mutant studies, TILLING and GM-technologies
- Describe mechanisms behind the crop-related characters, e.g. disease resistance, drought tolerance and quality traits
- Describe molecular breeding for disease resistance, stress tolerance and selected quality characters
- Characterize a number of key genes with major historic relevance in plant breeding (e.g. mlo and dwarf-8)
- mention major databases and literature within the area

Skills
- demonstrate laboratory experience in plant phenotyping, molecular marker technologies and linkage detection
- demonstrate laboratory experience in assessment of quality traits and in bioinformatics

Competencies:
- construct programs for crop improvement using naturally existing and induced genetic variation and transgene technology.
- apply knowledge on molecular mechanisms behind selected plant characters to design demanded crop phenotypes
 
Course Literature
Reviews and primary papers
 
Course Coordinator
Hans Thordal-Christensen, htc@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 353-33443
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Work Load
lectures45
practicals220
preparation142
examination5

412