BSc Minor Plant Breeding (WUPBR) / BSc

Profile

Plant Breeding is one of the most important disciplines in Plant Sciences in The Netherlands. Plant Breeding is not only important as an academic and applied research field but also as a practical profession in the development of novel varieties in food, feed, biobased (industrial, e.g. biofuel, fibers) and ornamental crops by plant breeding companies. This minor introduces students to the field of plant breeding with a focus on breeding for resistance and quality in major food, feed and ornamental crops; basic principles of plant breeding, the interaction of plants with pathogens, pests and the abiotic environment, development and application of tools for the plant breeder are studied. The courses provide the students with lectures, e-learning modules, practical's and case studies, which together give a thorough understanding of the field and competences for application of tools used in research and practical breeding. Within this minor, students can choose between a quantitative profile by including Modern Statistics for the Life Sciences, or a more plant biotechnological profile by including Plant Cell and Tissue Culture.
This BSc minor is a good introduction to continue in this field with the MSc programme Plant Sciences, e.g. for the specialization Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources. This minor is also relevant for a career at a plant breeding company.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this minor students are expected to be able to:
- explain advantages and limitations of plant breeding selection programs for crops with different modes of reproduction;
- quantify heritable and non-heritable variation in traits of interest;
explain the life cycles of plant pathogens, pest and weeds with special attention to reproduction mode, growth, development and dispersal in relation to plant growth, the durability of genetic resistance and possible effects of disease/pest control measures;
- explain how heredity, evolution and genetics are interrelated;
- explain major characteristics of various resistance and quality traits in plants;
- explain how important traits can be integrated in breeding programs of different crops;
- design and execute genetic experiments to answer relevant research questions;
- apply relevant analytic techniques and data analysis tools for target traits, including plant biotechnology, statistical analyses and cytogenetic and molecular mapping technologies to localise genes, markers and quantitative traits on linkage maps, chromosomes.

Language of Instruction

English

BSc Minor Coordinator

Dr G.J. Kuipers
Phone: 0317-(4)82839
E-mail: anja.kuipers@wur.nl

Target Group

This minor is interesting for BBI, BBT and BML students (not for BPW), and for BSc- and Ba-students Biology and/or Life Sciences