212-314 Plant Breeding and Genetics

Credit Points

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

It is expected that on the completion of this subject, students should gain an understanding of the principles and methodology of applied crop breeding and a knowledge of genes at the levels of populations and their contribution to development of quantitative traits. The topic include; Evolutionary processes and genetic variability of plant populations, World wide distribution and conservation of plant genetic resources. The topics to be covered include, Methods of breeding self and cross pollinating plants, Development of hybrids, Chromosome manipulation and polyploidy, Biometrical genetics in crop plant breeding, nature, significance and breeding for quantitative traits, Selection strategies and choice of breeding methods for disease and insect resistance in agricultural plants, Marker-assisted selection. Special techniques used in plant breeding- induced mutations, induced ploidy changes, haploids, male sterility, somatic hybridization and tissue culture, Commercialisation and intellectual property issues.

Assessment

A 2-hour end-of-semester examination and one written assignment (up to 3000 words).