GENETICS OF FOREST SYSTEMS

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Academic Year of enrolment:

2017/2018

Type of Course:

Related/Supplementary

Optional/Mandatory:

Compulsory

Degree:

Bachelor's Degree Programme in FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Disciplinary Sector:

Agrarian Genetics

Language:

Italian

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

RAU Domenico

Obligatory attendance:

Yes

Minimum hours of attendance:

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

no prerequisite

AF code:

40003631

Assessment Methods

Verification of learning:

The exam consists of two written tests 'in itinere' and one final oral exam.
Written tests are with open questions. These last a maximum of two hours. All the tests (two written and one oral) have the same weight (1/3) on the final score.
The results of the tests 'in itinere' are communicated to the students within one week after the tests.

Teaching period

First semester

Objectives

The main aims of the course are
1) To allow students acquiring fundamental knowledge in tree genetics
2) To cover both theoretical and practical aspects necessary for the analysis of genetic diversity and population dynamics aimed at the sustainable management and the conservation of forest biodiversity
3) To allow students acquiring theoretical and practical knowledge for the breeding of forest tree, to develop and support nursey sector.

Contents

DNA, central dogma, Mendel’s experiments, and genetic association
The DNA is the hereditary material. The molecular structure of DNA. The organization of DNA in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. DNA replication. From DNA to proteins: transcription and translation.
Mendel experiments and the three Mendel’s laws. Extensions of Mendel’s laws.
Meiosis: the cellular basis of sexual reproduction. Mechanism of meiosis that generate genetic variability Comparison between meiosis and mitosis.
Genes and chromosomes: genetic association (linkage) and recombination, map distances.

Mechanisms of evolutionary changes
- What is a population?
- How to describe a population: genotypic and allelic frequencies.
- The Hardy-Weinberg law (HW), chi-square test, genetic diversity (HE) and divergence among populations (FST). Applications of the HW law. The role of the evolutionary forces on the level and structure of genetic variation in forest populations: mutations, genetic drift, migration, founder effect, bottleneck effect, effective population size (Ne), selection, recombination. Interaction between the evolutionary forces. Inbreeding: Inbreeding depression and heterosis.

Quantitative genetics
- The genetic basis of quantitative traits.
- Mean, variance, standard deviation; covariance and correlation.
- Phenotypic value, genotypic value and environmental deviation. The model of Mather. Population mean, average effect of the alleles, average effect of allelic substitution, breeding value. Dominance deviations. The partitioning of the phenotypic variance: genetic variance (additive and dominance) and environmental variance. Genotype x environment interaction. Heritability (broad sense and narrow sense). Resemblance between relatives. Selection for quantitative traits: selection differential, intensity of selection, selection gain.

Factors influencing genetic variations within populations
Mating systems, population size, longevity, high levels of outcrossing, migration between populations (pollen and seed flow). Selection in changing environments: balancing selection. Plants density. patterns of cross-fertilization within populations. Spatial and temporal genetic structure within populations. Practical implications of the within-population genetic diversity: genetic improvements under natural regeneration systems. Seed collections in natural populations.

Geographic variation
Provenance, clinal and ecotipic variation. Provenance x Environment Interaction. Experimental methods used to study geographic variation: short-term seedling tests, long-term provenance trials patterns of geographic variation in forest trees. Implications of geographic variation for Seed Transfer “Domestic” and “Darwinian” fitness. Seed-zones.

Genetic resources
Relevance of the forest genetic resources. The in situ and ex situ strategies for the conservation of genetic resources. Sampling strategies. Core collections. The domestication of forest tree.

Tree improvement
Phenotypic mass selection. Comparison between seedling forestry and clonal forestry. Clonal selection. Genetic gain, choice of traits and indirect response. General combining ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA). Progeny tests. Recurrent selection for GCA.

Biotecnology applied to forest tree improvement
Tree genomics resources. Structural and functional genomics. Population genomics. Association mapping studies (GWAS), markers assisted selection (MAS). Genomic selection, transgenesis, genome editing.

Recommended Bibliography

In Italian:
- Barcaccia G., Falcinelli, 2005. Genetica e Genomica. Volume II. Miglioramento genetico. Liguori editori
- Barcaccia G., Falcinelli, 2005. Genetica e Genomica. Volume III. Genomica e biotecnologie genetiche. Liguori editori
- Teaching material (slides, presentations etc..) is also available.

In English:
White T., Adams T.W., Neal D.B. Forest genetics. CAB International, 2007.

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Lectures, practice, exercise with computer and in the field. Moreover, to build good co-workers relationships, to improve teamwork skills, and to promote critical thinking, ‘lab meeting’ will be organized to discuss seminal papers on forest genetics. Course materials (presentations, papers, exercises, etc.) will be available on line for all students.

Contacts/More Information

Contacts:
Domenico Rau
e-mail: dmrau@uniss.it
Phone : +39 079 229352

student reception:
Wednesday and Friday, by request via e-mail or by phone.

GENETICS OF FOREST SYSTEMS

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GENETICS OF FOREST SYSTEMS