PLSC 365: Genetic improvement of crop plants Course Outline, Fall 2013

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1 PLSC 365: Genetic improvement of crop plants Course Outline, Fall 2013 Instructor: Lectures: Dr. Habibur Rahman, Office: 4-16G Agriculture/Forestry, Phone: , Monday, Wednesday, Friday (12:00-12:50 hrs), Room CSC B43, Computing Sciences Centre. Office hours: Wednesday hrs Course description: This course deals with fundamental principles and concepts of crop improvement through application of genetic principles. Students will be introduced to some of the important plant breeding methodologies and techniques used by breeders for improvement of crop plants. Students will also be introduced to some of the modern tools used breeding. Course objective: At the end of the course, students will have basic understanding of the following areas and should be able to communicate knowledge as well: Genetic principles and their application in crop improvement. Some plant breeding methods employed for the development of crop cultivars. Some of the molecular and biotechnology tools used for the improvement of crop plants. Tentative Course Outline: 1. Introduction: Factors governing crop production; types of crops; goals of crop improvement; concept of genetic manipulation of crops; steps in plant breeding; the art and science of plant breeding; plant breeding industry/organization. 5. The history of plant breeding and plant breeding techniques: Origin of agriculture and plant breeding; the unknown breeder ; plant breeding technologies/techniques. 3. Plant cellular organization and genetic structure: Nature of biological information; plant genome; chromosome and nuclear divisions: mitosis and meiosis. 4. Plant reproductive system: Types of reproduction; sexual life-cycle of a plant; male and female gametogenesis; pollination and fertilization. Self- and cross-pollinated crops; genetics and breeding implications. Asexual reproduction. 5. Mendelian concepts in plant breeding and complex inheritance: Symbolism; concepts of genotype and phenotype; single locus and two-loci inheritance; distinguishing between heterozygous and homozygous individuals. Complex inheritance: incomplete dominance, multiple alleles, multiple genes, polygenic inheritance, gene interactions. Genetic linkage and its implications. 1

2 6. Hybridization: Emasculation and pollination; genetic issues in hybridization; types of populations generated through hybridization. 7. Variation: Types, origin and scale: Types of variation; origins of genetic variability; scale of variability. 8. Introduction to quantitative and population genetics: Qualitative traits; the environment and quantitative variation; polygenes and polygenic inheritance; types of gene action; concept of heritability; applications of heritability. Concept of population and gene pool, gene and genotype frequency; Hardy-Weinberg law. 9. Genetic improvement of self-pollinated crops: Types of cultivars; methods of developing self-pollinated cultivars, e.g. introduction, mass selection, pure-line selection, pedigree breeding, bulk population breeding, single seed descent. Concept of doubled haploid and its use in crop improvement. Backcross breeding method and applications. 10. Genetic improvement of cross-pollinated crops: Concept of recurrent selection. Population improvement methods, e.g. mass selection, half-sib, full-sib and selfed family selection. Concept of synthetic cultivar. 11. Development of hybrid cultivars: Concept of hybrid vigor (heterosis) and inbreeding depression; genetic basis of heterosis; types of hybrids; requirement and steps in hybrid breeding; development of hybrid cultivars based on male sterility system. 12. Molecular plant breeding: Concepts of genetic markers, use of molecular markers in crop improvement; concept of polymorphism; types of markers. Molecular breeding: Mapping of traits; marker-assisted selection; advantages of marker-assisted selection. 13. Mutagenesis in crop improvement: Types of mutations; induced vs. spontaneous mutation; mutagenic agents; materials for mutagenesis; mutation breeding in seed bearing plants; example of mutants, limitations of mutation. 14. Polyploidy in crop improvement: Variations in chromosome number; origin of polyploids; concept of auto- and allopolyploid; general effect of polyploidy; natural and synthetic polyploids; application in crop improvement. 13. Plant genetic engineering and improvement of crop plants: Concept of transgenic plants. Why genetic engineering? Concept of producing transgenic plants. Prospects and constraints of genetic engineering in plant improvement. 14. Tours to greenhouses and laboratories: Practical experience on some of the plant breeding activities. 2

3 Recommended Textbook: Acquaah, G Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding (Second edition), Blackwell Publishing, Wiley-Blackwell. For lectures on Plant cellular organization and genetic structure and Mendelian concepts in plant breeding and complex inheritance most of the Figures/Tables are taken from the following book. It would be good to have this book to gain more knowledge in plant genetics, and eventually for higher study in plant breeding. Griffiths, A.J.F., Wessler, S.R., Carroll, S.B. and Doebley, J Introduction to genetic analysis. W.H. Freeman & Company, New York. 3

4 Grading and Exam Scheme Examination % Examination / due dates Quizzes 1 5 September 27, in class room CSC B43 Mid-term 1 20 October 4, in class room CSC B43 Mid-term 2 20 November 1, in class room CSC B43 Quizzes 2 5 November 20, in class room CSC B43 Problem assignment(s) 10 Due as per date(s) indicated in assignment* Final 40 Monday, December 16, 2013, at 2.00 PM in class room CSC B43 Mid-term 1 will cover all lectures and activities through October 2, Mid-term 2 will cover all lectures and activities through October 30, Missed midterm: The weight of the midterm will be transferred to the final exam. Final will be comprehensive of the whole course. Assignments *Problem assignment will be given in class and during tours to greenhouse and laboratories; and due date(s) will be indicated in the assignment. Late submission will be penalized 10% of its value per day (not limiting to working days) beyond the due date. Tours to field, greenhouse and laboratories are tentatively scheduled on Sept. 6 th, Sept. 25 th, Oct. 2 nd, and Nov. 22 nd. These date(s) may change depending on weather condition, growth of the plants in greenhouse, as well as progress in lectures. Throughout the term, raw marks will be assigned to reflect performance on each component of the course. Letter grades will be assigned only to the final distribution of mark totals. There are no predetermined cut lines for final grade assignment. Electronic Devises Use of electronic devices during examination is restricted. Only approved non-programmable calculators permitted. Missed Final Exam Instructors can neither give permission to a student to miss the final exam nor grant a request for a deferred final exam. Students are encouraged to check exam schedules prior to making travel or event plans. The decision to grant a deferred final exam can only be granted by their own Faculty (e.g. ALES students go to 231 GSB to obtain an exam deferral, Science students go to CCIS). Acceptable reasons for an excused absence may include illness or bereavement, and unacceptable reasons include weddings, travel arrangements or being on vacation. The University policy on deferred exams can be found in Section of the University Calendar. It includes specific instructions on how to obtain a deferral. 4

5 Policy on Deferred Examinations Deferred examination date must be agreed between the student and the instructor, and the examination must be completed no later than the end of Reading Week, February 21, 2014 (See (3) of the University Calendar for further information) Academic Integrity The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour ( and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University. (GFC 2003) Code of Student Behaviour All students at the University of Alberta are subject to the Code of Student Behaviour, as outlined at: eofstudentbehaviour.aspx. Please familiarize yourself with it and ensure that you do not participate in any inappropriate behavior as defined by the Code. Key components of the code include the following statements (1) No Student shall submit the words, ideas, images or data of another person as the Student s own in any academic writing, essay, thesis, project, assignment, presentation or poster in a course or program of study (2) c. No Student shall represent another s substantial editorial or compositional assistance on an assignment as the Student s own work. 5