Text: Sleper, David A. and Poehlman, John M. 2006. Breeding Field Crops. Fifth Ed. Blackwell Publishing.
pp. 424. The textbook is available for purchase at the University of Manitoba Bookstore. One copy of the
5th edition of this text is on 4 h reserve in the William Newman library. Note: Chapters listed in the course
outline refer to chapters from the 5th edition.
Lists of other references will be provided as required.
Grade Assignment:
Mid-term Examination (Oct. 23, 2009 - During class time) 15%
Laboratory
Data Analysis Assignment (Due Oct. 29, 2009) 15%
Laboratory Reports (Due dates will be assigned 15%
upon completion of the specific lab.)
Participation in Group Discussions 10%
Final Examination (During regular examination period.) 45%
Note: Late assignments will not be accepted and will automatically receive a grade of zero.
Examinations will include questions and problems from lectures, laboratories and assigned readings.
Note: Academic dishonesty is a serious offence. Please refer to the General Academic Regulations and
Policy section in the General Calendar for information on `Plagiarism and Cheating' and
`Examinations: Personations'.
http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/calendar10/regulations/plagiarism.asp
http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/calendar10/regulations/exams/exams_personaltions.asp
Evaluative feedback from the first assignment and midterm examination will be provided prior to the
deadline for voluntary withdrawal (November 18, 2009).
PLNT 3520 - PRINCIPLES OF PLANT IMPROVEMENT
Course Description: This course deals with the basic principles and concepts of the genetic improvement of plants and related topics. Current breeding methodologies will be explored. Recent advances and trends in plant breeding will be discussed.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should:
1) Understand basic principles and concepts of plant improvement, and related topics.
2) Be able to develop solutions to simple plant improvement problems through the application of genetic and plant breeding principles.
3) Effectively communicate scientific knowledge related to plant breeding.
Lectures are scheduled MWF at 9:30 am, Rm 343 Agriculture Bldg.
Labs are scheduled Thurs. 2:30-5:30 pm, Rm 134 Agriculture Bldg. Attendance is mandatory.
COURSE OUTLINE
1. INTRODUCTION (Chapter 1)
- definitions, objectives and role of plant improvement in agriculture
2. PLANT REPRODUCTION (Chapters 2 & 7)
- types of reproduction
- fertility regulating mechanisms - morphological, physiological, genetic
- reproductive manipulation
3. GENETIC RESOURCES (Chapter 13)
- origins of genetic diversity
- patterns of evolution and domestication of cultivated plant species
- genetic resources and germplasm conservation
4. INHERITANCE OF GENETIC VARIABILITY (Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- qualitative traits - Mendelian inheritance, gene action, recombination, etc.
- quantitative traits - gene action, heritability, genotype x environment interactions
- variation in chromosome number - polyploidy, aneuploidy, and haploidy
5. IMPROVEMENT OF SELF-POLLINATED PLANT SPECIES (Chapters 9, 12, 14, 15, 16)
- genetic theory related to self-pollinated plants
- selection strategies
- methods - pedigree, single seed descent, doubled haploids, backcrossing, etc.
6. IMPROVEMENT OF CROSS-POLLINATED PLANT SPECIES (Chapters 10, 11, 12, 17, 18)
- genetic theory related to cross-pollinated plants
- selection methods - recurrent selection, mass selection, full-sib selection, half-sib selection, self-progeny test
- methods specific to cultivar types - open pollinated, hybrids, synthetics
7. IMPROVEMENT OF VEGETATIVELY PROPAGATED PLANT SPECIES (Chapters 10, 21, 22)
- principles specific to clonally propagated plants
8. PLANT CELL AND TISSUE CULTURE IN PLANT IMPROVEMENT (Chapter 8)
- general principles of plant cell and tissue culture
- elimination of disease and role in germplasm conservation
- clonal propagation
- embryo culture
- pollen and anther culture
- doubled haploid production
- somatic cell hybridization
9. GENETIC TRANSFORMATION (i.e. GENETIC ENGINEERING)
- general process of genetic transformation
- applications to plant improvement
- advantages and disadvantages of use of genetic transformation for plant improvement
10. APPLICATION OF MOLECULAR MARKERS TO PLANT IMPROVEMENT
- principles of marker assisted selection
- types of markers - morphological, product based, DNA
- monoclonal antibodies, RFLP's, PRC
11. VARIETY RELEASE, MAINTENANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
- government regulation
- maintenance of genetic purity
- issues in plant breeders rights and gene patenting
TENTATIVE LABORATORY SCHEDULE
The following represents the tentative laboratory schedule. Any changes to this schedule will be announced in class.
Sept. 17 Plant Reproductive Anatomy and Manipulation (Rm 134 Ag. Bldg)
Sept. 24 No lab
Oct. 1 Fertility Regulation: Self-incompatibility and Male Sterility, Doubled Haploid Production, Reproductive Isolation (Rm 134 Ag. Bldg)
Oct. 8 Genetic Recombination (Rm 134 Ag. Bldg)
Oct. 15 Data Analysis (Rm 137 Ag. Bldg)
Oct. 22 Data Analysis (Rm 137 Ag. Bldg)
Oct. 29 Breeding Methods for Self Pollinated Species (Rm 134 Ag. Bldg)
Nov. 5 No lab
Nov. 12 Population Genetics – Response to Selection in Cross Pollinated Crop Species (Rm 134 Ag. Bldg)
Nov. 19 Breeding Methods for Cross Pollinated Crop Species (Rm 134 Ag. Bldg)
Nov. 26 Issues Related to Genetically Engineered Crops (Rm 134 Ag. Bldg)
Dec. 3 Molecular Genetics (location to be determined)
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