PLANT SCIENCES 727 (PLSC727)

Crop Breeding Techniques

Graduate Class, 1 Credit

Course Description:

Identification of breeding methods used to develop superior genotypes in several crop species.

Course Objectives:

1)            Understand the science and art of the effective management of genetic variability.

2)            Know how to identify breeding goals for target environments.

2)

3)            Know how to select breeding methods to develop desired genotypes.

4)            Know why we self, why we cross, and why we use specific breeding techniques.

Evaluation Procedures and Criteria:

Students will be evaluated based on attendance, weekly reports, and a final exam.

Attendance is required for all presentations. Instructor will make one exception per student in specific circumstances with major advisor approval. In those cases, both student and instructor should agree prior to student absence.

One-page (double-spaced, font size 12) original and creative printed reports are required for each presentation (attended or not). Therefore, your number of reports will depend on the number of presentations. No exceptions will be made.

Deadline: Weekly reports should be presented to instructor by next class period. The last report should be presented prior to final exam.

Final exam content will be based on breeding techniques presented.

Grading

Attendance     10 Points                                                                             If > 90 then A

Reports            80 Points                                                                             If > 80 then B                       

Final Exam     10 Points                                                                             If > 70 then C

Total              100 Points                                                                            If < 70 then F

Student Recommended Resources:

Fehr, W.R., and H.H. Hadley (eds.) 1980. Hybridization of Crop Plants. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI.

Fehr, W.R. (ed.) 1987. Principles of Cultivar Development. Vol. 2 Crop Species. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, NY.

Plant Sciences 781 (PLSC781)

Quantitative Genetics

(Graduate Class, 2 Credits)

Course Description:

Applied Quantitative Genetics and Its Implications on Plant Breeding.

Course Information: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/plantsci/plsc781/plsc781.htm

Course Objectives:

1)            Know How to Apply the Principles of Quantitative Genetics to Plant Breeding

1)

2)            Be Able to Manage a Breeding Program Based on Traits with Complex Inheritance

PLSC781 will lead you to estimate the genetic variation in plant populations and how this information can be applied to maximize genetic improvement of germplasm and develop superior genotypes.

Evaluation Procedures and Criteria:

The students will be evaluated based on tests and problem set assignments.

Grading

Exam content will be based on lectures and problems.          

3 Exams        150 Points                                                                                                    

Problems         50 Points

Total              200 Points   

If > 180 then A

If > 160 then B

If > 140 then C

If > 120 then D

If < 120 then F

Course Schedule:

Projected Outline

I.              Introduction

I. 1. Quantitative Genetics

I. 2. Plant Breeding and Quantitative Genetics

I. 3. Division of Phenotypic Value (Review)

I. 4. Systematic View of a Breeding Program

II.            Review of Methods of Estimation

II. 1. Means and Variances (Review)

II. 2. Covariance of Relatives (Review)

II. 3. Relationship between Covariance of Relatives and Genetic Variances

III.           Variability within F2 and Backcross Populations

        III. 1. Means and Variances

        III. 2. Genetic Variance and Inbreeding

IV.          Heritability

IV. 1. Broad vs. Narrow sense

IV. 2. Individual vs. Progeny-mean basis

V.           Generation Mean Analysis for Estimation of Genetic Effects

VI.          Mating Designs for Estimating Genetic Variances   

VI.            VI. 1. Biparental, Nested, North Carolina Design I

VI.            VI. 2. Cross-classification, North Carolina Design II

VI.            VI. 3. North Carolina Design III

            VI. 4. Diallel, partial diallel analyses

VII.         Selection

VII. 1. Selection Response Prediction

VII. 2. Selection Response Evaluation

VII. 3. Breeding Strategies

VII. 3.1. Recurrent Selection Methods for Genetic Improvement

VII. 3.2. Pedigree Selection and Distribution of Genetic Variances

VII. 3.3. Visual Selection vs. Progeny Evaluation

VII. 4. Heritability Index

VIII.       Correlated Response to Selection

IX.          Inbreeding Depression and Heterosis

X.           Heterotic Patterns

Student Recommended Resources:

Falconer, D.S., and T.F.C. Mackay. 1996. Introduction to quantitative genetics. 4^th ed., Longman Group Ltd., Edinburgh, U.K.

Hallauer, A.R., and J.B. Miranda Fo. 1988. Quantitative genetics in maize breeding. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames, IA.