Inheritance of qualitative and quantitative traits; fundamentals of population genetics; classical and biotechnological methods of crops genetic improvement.
Acquaah, George - Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding (Wiley-Blackwell)
Teaching material provided by the lecturer.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge: inheritance of qualitative and quantitative traits; fundamentals of population genetics; classical and biotechnological techniques for genetic improvement.
Skills acquired during the course: use of a specific vocabulary for the covered topics; ability to establish which breeding methods are most suitable for different species and contexts; comprehension and evaluation of scientific and technological progresses for genetic improvement of plants.
These skills can be used in professional activity and in the fields related to the genetic improvement of crops.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge in Plant Biology and Genetics is required.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, practical/applicative exercises and seminars.
Further information
Attendance to classes and other activities, although not mandatory, is strongly recommended.
Type of Assessment
Oral exam at the end of the course. The interview aims to prove that the student acquired specific knowledge about the topics covered during the course and achieved the ability to correlate them.
Course program
COURSE INTRODUCTION: references to Mendelian and molecular genetics; linkage and recombination.
POPULATION GENETICS: allelic and genotypic frequencies; Hardy-Weinberg principle; agents of microevolution; relative fitness and selection coefficient.
QUANTITATIVE GENETICS: genetic basis of quantitative traits; heritability in the broad and narrow sense; selection response.
CONTROL OF THE REPRODUCTIVE PROCESSES OF PLANTS: sexual and asexual reproduction; autogamy and allogamy; self-incompatibility and male sterility: mechanisms, molecular basis and use in genetic improvement.
BREEDING METHODS: populations genetic structure and breeding methods in autogamous, allogamous and vegetative propagation plants.
MOLECULAR MARKERS AND USES IN PLANT BREEDING: genetic and molecular markers; marker-assisted selection; quantitative trait loci.
GENETIC VARIABILITY INDUCTION: spontaneous and induced mutations; use of mutagenesis for genetic improvement; polyploidy and genetic improvement; interspecific hybridization. New technologies for genetic improvement: genetic transformation and genome editing.
TECHNICAL-APPLICATIVE EXERCISES: Solving practical problems related to the course topics. The aim is the application of the principles learned during the course in real contexts.