LBIK10145U Molecular Plant Breeding
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)
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
Lecture notes, scientific papers and reviews, laboratory protocols
Molekylær genetik LBIF10184
Plant Genomics LBIA10213
Plant Breeding LPLF10314
Tema: Plantevidenskab LPLB10328
A mixture of lectures for overviews and four two-week practical laboratory cases for small student groups in ongoing research areas. The students will describe this in a written report. These activities are complemented by journal clubs and discussions on specifically relevant themes.
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 5
- Excursions
- 8
- Lectures
- 37
- Practical exercises
- 220
- Preparation
- 142
- Total
- 412
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 25 min.Oral examination based on a case report randomly selected at the exam and general course content
- Exam registration requirements
- Participation in minimum 75% the teaching activities
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal examiner
- Re-exam
- Oral examination as above
Criteria for exam assesment
"12" is scored by the student who can demonstrate having understood the described course content, including the principles behind.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LBIK10145U
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedule
- A (Tues 8-12 + Thurs 8-17) And C (Mon 13-17 + Wednes 8-17)
- Course capacity
- 20
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources and Environment
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Course responsibles
- Hans Thordal-Christensen (3-6b776643736f6871316e7831676e)
Lecturers
Hans Thordal-Christensen
Søren K. Rasmussen
Sven Bode Andersen
Carsten Pedersen
Anna Maria Torp
Jihad Orabi