GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF GROWN PLANTS

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020/2021

Type of Course:

Related/Supplementary

Optional/Mandatory:

Optional

Degree:

Master's Degree Programme in AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

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:

It is strongly recommended that students passed the exam of Agricultural genetics.

AF code:

40000701

Assessment Methods

Verification of learning:

The exam consists of two written tests 'in itinere' and one final oral test.
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 written tests (in itinere) are communicated to students within one week after the tests.

The main aim of the exam is to ascertain the knowledge and the understanding of the traditional methods and of the advanced biotechnological tools available for the conservation of plant genetic resources and for plant breeding. However, as plant breeding strongly depends on the socio-economic context, the exam wants to assess student’s ability to define appropriate objectives and strategies, integrating knowledge and using critical thinking skills.

Teaching period

First semester

Objectives

Students will gain an understanding of traditional and modern biotechnological methods for plant breeding. Students will be competent in the assessment, study and exploitation of genetic variability to improve quantitative and qualitative performances of cultivated plants and to set appropriate germplasm conservation strategies. Moreover, students will be able to set proper breeding objectives and programmes, to choose among the different available techniques, and to integrate methods and strategies for varietal development and seed production. Students will know how to make connections among different topics in plant breeding. 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 in plant breeding.

Contents

Introduction
What is plant breeding?

Mating systems and reproductive barriers: impact on population structure and plant breeding. (0,5 CFU)

Elements of evolutionary and population genetics
- Describing a population: genotypic frequencies, allelic frequencies, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, linkage disequilibrium
- Effects of evolutionary factors: mutation, migration, genetic drift, inbreeding, and selection. Interplay among evolutionary forces (1CFU)

Plant genetic resources in crop improvement
- Centres of origin and diversification. Domestication process and its relevance for breeding.
- Landraces, breeding and genetic erosion
- Sampling strategies and collection of genetic resources
- Conservation of plant genetic resources (0,5 CFU)

Quantitative genetics
- Genetic basis of a quantitative trait
- Statistics: mean, variance, covariance, correlation and regression.
- Phenotypic value, genotypic value, environmental effect. Average effect of an allele; breeding values. Allelic interactions. Genotype x Enviromnent (GxE) interaction. Decomposition of phenotypic variance. Broad sense and narrow sense heritabilities. Covariance (resemblance) between relatives.
- Predicting response to selection on a quantitative trait
(1CFU)

Varietal development
- Methods to induces genetic variability in crop
- Selection methods based on mode of reproduction: prevalently autogamous (bulk, pedigree, single seed descent (SSD), backcross) prevalently allogamous (recurrent selection, synthetic varieties, inbreeding depression, heterosis, general and specific combining ability, hybrid varieties) and clonal.
- Evaluation of selected materials in multi-environmental trials.
- Seed production
(1CFU)

Analysis of genetic variability and biotechnologies applied to plant breeding
- Plant genomics: methods, resources, and applications (definition and examples of comparative, structural functional genomics)
- Analysis of gene expression by RNA sequencing
- Elements of population genomics
- Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analysis. Association mapping.
- Marker assisted selection (MAS). “Breeding by design”, genomic selection and genome editing.
(1CFU)

Successful examples of plant breeding for biotic and abiotic stresses.
(0,5 CFU)

Practice exercise
Use of simulation programmes
Visit in the field
(1,5 CFU)

Recommended Bibliography

Lorenzetti F., Albertini E., Frusciante L., Rosellini D., Russi L., Tuberosa R., Veronesi F., 2018. Miglioramento genetico delle piante agrarie. Edagricole.

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

Course materials supplied during lectures.

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 in plant breeding. 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:
from monday to friday, preferably (but not compulsory) after request by mail or phone.

The lecturer is available to teach and to prepare teaching materials and tests in English for foreign students.

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GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF GROWN PLANTS