Course overview
This course aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of plant breeding and plant adaptation that are applicable to agricultural and natural systems. Topics covered include: genetic diversity in relation to adaptation, productivity, pest and disease resistance, sustainable agricultural practices and end-use quality; strategies for setting breeding objectives and maximising selection and improvement of key traits; and; breeding methodologies for self or cross-pollinated plants. Students will learn from industry leaders in the plant breeding discipline, including those in broad-acre cropping and horticulture.
- Introduction to Plant Breeding
- Plant Reproduction
- Genetic Diversity and Resources
- Novel Variation
- Self-Pollination
- Horticultural Plant Breeding
- Markers and Genomic Selection
- High-throughput Trait Phenotyping (HTTP) in Plant Breeding
- Breeding for Disease Resistance
- Performance Evaluation (GxE and its influence on breeding)
- Cultivar Release and Commercialisation
Course learning outcomes
- Describe sources and types of genetic variation and explain their importance for plant improvement
- Describe the progression of stages within a modern breeding programme from the setting of breeding objectives, through the development and implementation of breeding strategies to the commercialisation of plant varieties and the protection of intellectual property
- Describe methods that are used in plant breeding and judge which plant breeding methods are appropriate for specific objectives and situations
- Locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise plant breeding information to formulate and communicate a justifiable plan for the application of plant breeding methods to achieve a specific objective
- Understand how to perform specific plant breeding activities, such as selection of parental germplasm, observation and recording of phenotypic variation and selection among progeny
Availability
Class details
Waite Campus
Group 1
Class number 33362
Section LE01
Size 24
Available 24
Notes:
Class number 27663
Section PR01
Size 24
Available 24
Notes:
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