Genetic diversity and plant breeding
Entry Requirements
As an alternative to the above, equivalent to 120 credits including 60 credits Biology of which at least 5 credits Genetics and at least 5 credits Plant Biology/Plant Physiology must be included. English skills equivalent to English B from upper secondary school.
Course facts
- Course name
- Genetic diversity and plant breeding
- Swedish course name
- Genetic diversity and plant breeding
- Level
- Second cycle (A1N)
- Main field of study
- Biology
- Credits
- 15.0 credits
- Rate of study
- 100 %
- Study location
- Uppsala
- Form of instruction
- Campus-based instruction
- Application code
- SLU-20005
- Course code
- BI1103
- Course language
- English
- Included in program
-
Plant Biology for Sustainable Production - Master's ProgrammePlant Biology for Sustainable Production - Master's programmeAgriculture Programme - Soil/PlantAgriculture and Plant/Soil SciencesAgricultural Science with a Specialisation in Plant and Soil Sciences
- Offered as a freestanding course
- Ja
- Tuition fee
-
38060 SEK
Tuition fees only for non-EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens
BI1103, Genetic diversity and plant breeding, 15.0 Hp
Print syllabus
Syllabus
Level
Second cycle (A1N)
Main field of study
Biology
Grading Scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Course language
English
Entry Requirements
As an alternative to the above, equivalent to 120 credits including 60 credits Biology of which at least 5 credits Genetics and at least 5 credits Plant Biology/Plant Physiology must be included. English skills equivalent to English B from upper secondary school.
Objectives
After completion of the course the student is expected to be able to:
- explain the concept of genetic diversity and how evolutionary processes and domestication affect genetic diversity
- explain concepts of quantitative genetics, breeding methods and regulations for the development of plant varieties
- understand principles of mapping quantitative traits in plant genomes and how to use this as a first step towards the identification of genes controlling phenotypic traits
- broadly explain next generation sequencing technologies and perform basic sequence analyses
- describe different biotechnological applications within plant breeding
- independently search, summarize and interpret literature within the topics covering genetic diversity and/or plant breeding and present this information in writing and orally
- conduct laboratory work to demonstrate genetic diversity at the molecular level, compile the results and write a lab-report
Content
The course deals with issues within evolution, domestication and breeding. More specifically it focuses on different reproductive systems and their breeding strategies, on the use of next generation sequencing technologies to sequence whole genomes and their applications in breeding. Important qualitative and quantitative plant traits will be high-lighted both genetically and phenotypically. Practical exercises are parts of the course including both wet lab, phenotyping of plants and computer exercises. Application of molecular marker systems in selection processes as well as other methods in plant biotechnology constitutes a section of the course besides bioethical aspects. Legislation connected with variety production and the ownership of variety material will be discussed.
Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course
Passed exams, passed presentations, passed lab-report and fulfilled compulsory parts.
Responsible Department/Equivalent
Department of Plant Biology
Supplementary information
Included in program
- Plant Biology for Sustainable Production - Master's Programme
- Plant Biology for Sustainable Production - Master's programme
- Agriculture Programme - Soil/Plant
- Agriculture and Plant/Soil Sciences
- Agricultural Science with a Specialisation in Plant and Soil Sciences
Module set
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratory practicals | 5.0 | 0302 |
| Literature project | 5.0 | 0303 |
| Written examination | 5.0 | 0304 |
The Course Replaces
BI1103
Other Information
At least 5 credits of genetics and 10 credits of plant biology are recommended.
Course literature:
Book chapters:
3 Acquaah George: Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, Second Edition, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, 2012, chapters 1, 2, 4, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 26
4 Russel, Peter J. iGenetics. A molecular approach, (Pearson international edition), chapter 21, Population genetics, pp: 603-649
Articles:
1 Doebly, J. F., Brandon, S. G., Smith B. D. 2006. The molecular genetics of crop domestication. Cell 127:
2 Lloyd, A., Bomblies, K. 2016. Meiosis in autopolyploid and allopolyploid Arabidopsis. Curr. Opi. Plant Biol. 30:116-122.
3 Sattler, M. C, Carvalho, C. R., Clarindo, W. R. 2015. The polyploidy and its key role in plant breeding. Planta 243:281-296.
4 Collard, B.C.Y., Jahufer, M.Z.Z., Brouwer, J.B., Pang, E.C.K. 2005. An introduction to markers, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and marker-assisted selection for crop improvement: The basic concepts. Euphytica 142: 169-196.
5 Varshney RK, Terauchi R, McCouch SR (2014) Harvesting the Promising Fruits of Genomics: Applying Genome Sequencing Technologies to Crop Breeding. PLOS Biology 12(6): e1001883. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001883.
6 Gelli, M., Konda, A. R., et al. 2017. Validation of QTL mapping and transcriptome profiling for identification of candidate genes associated with nitrogen stress tolerance in sorghum. BMC Plant Biology 17:123.
7 Siipi, H. 2015. Is genetically modified food unnatural? J Agric Environ Ethics. 28:807-816.
8 McDonald, B., Linde, C. 2002. Pathogen population genetics, evolutionary potential, and durable resistance. Annu. Rev. Phytopathology. 40: 349-79.
9 Nelson, R., Wiesner-Hanks, T., Wisser, R., Balint-Kurti, P. 2018. Navigating complexity to breed disease-resistant crops. Nat. Rev. Genet. Vol. 19:21-33. doi:10.1038/nrg.2017.82
10Gómez, P., Rodríguez-Hernández, A.M., Moury, B., Aranda, M.A. 2009. Genetic resistance for the sustainable control of plant virus diseases: breeding, mechanisms and durability. European Journal of Plant Pathology 125: 1-22.
11Sameri, M., et al. 2009. A quantitative trait locus for reduced culm internode length in barley segregates as a Mendelian gene. TAG: 118:643–652.
12Fritsche-Neto, R., Do Vale J.C. A. 2012. Breeding for stress-tolerance or resource-use efficiency? In Plant Breeding for abiotic stress tolerance. Eds: Fritsche-Neto, R., Borém, A. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-30553-5_2
13 Pourkheirandish, M., et al. 2015. Evolution of the grain dispersal system in barley. Cell 162, 527–539.
academic year 2025/2026
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20005)
2026-01-15 - 2026-02-01
academic year 2024/2025
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20053)
2025-01-12 - 2025-02-02
academic year 2023/2024
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20071)
2024-01-07 - 2024-01-28
academic year 2022/2023
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20061)
2023-01-10 - 2023-01-29
academic year 2021/2022
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20036)
2022-01-09 - 2022-01-22
academic year 2020/2021
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20019)
2021-01-10 - 2021-01-31
academic year 2019/2020
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20118)
2020-01-12 - 2020-02-02
academic year 2018/2019
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20095)
2019-01-13 - 2019-02-03
academic year 2017/2018
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20003)
2017-12-31 - 2018-01-28
academic year 2016/2017
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20019)
2017-01-09 - 2017-03-05
academic year 2015/2016
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20022)
2016-01-15 - 2016-01-25
academic year 2014/2015
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20147)
2015-01-07 - 2015-04-26
academic year 2013/2014
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20049)
2014-01-15 - 2014-08-19
academic year 2012/2013
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20028)
2013-01-16 - 2013-03-20
academic year 2011/2012
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20063)
2012-01-11 - 2012-01-27
academic year 2010/2011
Genetic diversity and plant breeding (BI1103-20116)
2011-01-11 - 2011-01-24
Contact
- Course coordinator
- Adrien Sicard