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Genetics and Breeding

Course developers

Course abstract

The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge about the importance of plant breeding and plant varieties in sustainable crop production.
Students will acquire knowledge about the history of plant breeding, as well as about its importance nowadays. Topics that are covered during this course: the possibilities of using plant genetic resources; different types of commercially available plant varieties: pure-line varieties, population varieties, hybrid varieties, clonal varieties, synthetic varieties, multiline varieties etc.; methods used for creating and maintaining these varieties (breeding schemes).
The course will cover the theoretical principles of genetics that nowadays ensures and provides a successful breeding process: heredity and variability, Mendel's laws of heredity, mutagenesis, polyploidy, remote hybridization, heterosis, the basics of population genetics, non-chromosomal inheritance.
Students will be introduced with the most important objectives of plant breeding: increased yield, resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, improved end-use quality.
Students will learn the importance of tissue cultures and molecular tools used in modern breeding, and modern breeding methods that can be used for obtaining modified plant varieties.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After finishing the course, students will have knowledge about the main principles of genetics and breeding, as well as the interconnection between both disciplines; the main schemes and methods of plant breeding and the principles of choosing the right breeding approach.
• Seminar about the link between genetics and breeding.
• Test about the basic laws of genetics, cytological and molecular basis of heredity.
Skills will have the ability to solve genetics tasks and to compile a breeding plan (correct breeding method, scheme depending on peculiarities of the species).
• Seminar about the usage of breeding methods and breeding schemes.
• Test on solving breeding tasks (allelic and non-allelic gene interaction)
Students will be competent to be involved into the plant breeding process, to distinguish and to be able to evaluate differences between different plant varieties. Students will acquire the competence to determine the aim of breeding and direction of work specialization; perform planning of breeding process and to do evaluation of breeding material.
• Seminar about evaluation of breeding material and planning of the breeding process.
Students will have knowledge about different modern breeding methods (biotechnology, molecular biology tools) and the use of these methods in both traditional breeding, as well as for obtaining genetically modified plant varieties.
• Presentation and seminar about breeding, using various modern biotechnology methods.
• Test about modern biotechnology methods in modern breeding.
Final exam on the whole course material.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Historical development of plant breeding, aims and its significance nowadays. 2h
2. The definition of genetics, the main research directions. Cytological basis of heredity. 2h
3. Molecular basis of heredity. 2h
4. Mendel’s laws of inheritance; interaction of allelic genes (mono-, dihybrid crossing). 2h
5. Mendel’s laws of inheritance; interaction of non-allelic genes (complementation of genes, epistasis). 2h
6. Variability of the organism (hereditary and non-hereditary). Classification of mutations. 2h
7. Mutation of genes, chromosomes and genome, and characterization of mutations. Intergeneric hybridization. 2h
8. Definition of breeding. Main steps of breeding. Organization of the breeding process. Classification and characterization of varieties.
9. The importance of breeding material. 2h
10. Breeding schemes of self-pollinating plant varieties. 2h
11. Formation of population varieties. Basics of population genetics.
12. Hybrid variety formation. Non-chromosomal heredity. Inbreeding and heterosis. 2h
13. Registration of varieties: DUS and VCU tests. 2h
14. The use of phenotypical, biochemical and DNA markers in plant breeding. 2h
15. Breeding for different traits: abiotic and biotic factors. 2h

16. Breeding using methods of modern biotechnology: in v2 h

Requirements for awarding credit points

Exam. Students are allowed to take the exam if all the tests and seminars have been successfully passed; students must complete all the practical works that are planned during the course.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Students carry out group and/or individual practical works during the classes and complete the necessary protocols.
During the course, students have to conduct study literature studies about at least two of the course topics. Obtained information must be presented in the form of and presentation or essay, by prior arrangement, and depending on the topic of the course.
Individual work preparing for tests, seminars and exam.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final grade of the course depends on the results of tests, essays, presentations, as well as on the result of the final exam. The weight of the final exam grade is higher compared to the weight of other tests.
The practical works are assessed by both student activity during the class, and by the submitted protocols. Practical works are graded with – credited / uncredited.
Exam may be taken only if the other tests and conditions of practical works have been successfully completed.

Compulsory reading

1. Caligari P. An Introduction to Plant Breeding. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. 2009. 209 p.
2. Plant Breeding. J.Brown., P.Caligari, H.Campos. Wiley Blackwell, 2014. 278 p.
3. Fruit Breeding. Vol. I: Tree and Tropical Fruit. Ed. by J. Janic and J. Moore. New York etc.: John Wiley and Sons, 1996. 616 p.
4. Plant Biotechnology and Genetics. C. Neal Stewart Jr., Wiley. 2008.
5. Raipulis J. Ģenētikas pamati. Rīga: RaKa, 2002. 250 lpp.
6. Āboliņš M. Ģenētikas praktikums. Jelgava: LLU. 1997. 225 lpp.

7. Pieejams LLU FB abonētajā datubāzē eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost) http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=233078&site=ehost-live&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_C1 5.Biotechnology. Applying the Genetic Revolution. David P. Clark, Nanette J. Pazdernik. Elsevier, 2009.

Further reading

1. Dictionary of Plant Breeding. Rolf H.J.Schlegel. CRC Press, 2010. 571 p. [tiešsaiste] [24.09.2019.] Pieejams: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780429150708
2. Chahal G.S., Gosal S.S. Principles and procedures of plant breeding. Harrow, U.K: Alpha Science International Ltd, 2002. 604. p. 3. Plant Mutation Breeding and Biotechnology. Q.Y. Shu, B.P.Forster, H.Nakagawa. FAO, 2011.
3. Misiņa M., Loža V. Ģenētika ar selekcijas pamatiem. Rīga, 1991. 397 lpp.
4. Holms I. (1992) Laukaugu selekcija Latvijā.- R.: Avots, 112 lpp.

5. Madera, Silvija S. (2001) Bioloģija : eksperimentāla mācību grāmata. 1. daļa. - Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC,. 290 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Plant Breeding. Published by John Wiley and Sons. ISSN (printed): 0179-9541. ISSN (electronic): 1439-0523. 2. Euphytica Published by Springer. ISSN (printed): 0014-2336. ISSN (electronic): 1573-5060. Pieejams LLU FB abonētajā datubāze SpringerLink http://www.springerlink.com/content/0014-2336/

Notes

For students of the bachelor study programme “Sustainable Agriculture”, specialisation in Sustainable plant production,