PBR-31306 Bioresources

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures16
Practical intensively supervised15
Project learning10
Tutorial17
Course coordinator(s)dr. ir. LM Trindade
Lecturer(s)dr. ir. LM Trindade
dr. ir. WJM Lommen
prof. dr. HJ Bouwmeester
Examiner(s)dr. ir. LM Trindade
prof. dr. HJ Bouwmeester
dr. ir. WJM Lommen

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

BCT-51306 Biobased Economy and PPH-10806 Structure and Function of Plants or MIB-20306 Microbial Physiology and MOB-20306 Gene Technology.

Continuation courses:

PBR-30306 Breeding for Quality and Resistance and CSA-30306 Advanced Crop Physiology.

Contents:

This course deals with recent developments in the agronomy of biomass production, methods for classical and marker-assisted plant breeding, and metabolic engineering of biosynthetic pathways. There will be special attention for multi-purpose crops such as hemp, potato, sugar beet, maize, chicory and miscanthus. Agronomic criteria for best suitable crops will be analysed at the level of the individual crop, the farming system and the region, and this will be viewed in the light of their ecological footprint. Several aspects of classical and molecular breeding for quality of biobased (dedicated) crops will be explained and discussed. Strategies for characterization of genes and metabolic pathways leading to high value compounds will be discussed.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- quantitatively analyse productivity of biomass crops, ecological sustainability and yields of their most favoured crop components;
- explain the principles of on-farm conservation and on-farm pre-processing of biomass;
- understand the basics of breeding for quality of biomass and development of multi-purpose crops;
- Understand the basics of the metabolic pathways leading to the most important bio-resource components and principles of metabolic engineering.

Examination:

written exam (50%);
essay on specific case study (50%).
To pass the course a minimum grade of 5.5 for each element is required.

Literature:

Documentation will be available at the start of the course and electronically via Blackboard.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Restricted Optional for: MPBPlant BiotechnologyMScC: Molecular Plant Breeding and Pathology5AF
MinorPeriod
Compulsory for: WUBBSBSc Minor Bio-Based Technology5AF