PBR-36303 New Trends in Plant Breeding (DL)

Course

Credits 3.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Principles of Plant Breeding, Breeding for Quality, Breeding for Tolerance, Breeding for Resistance, Plant Pathology.

Continuation courses:

MSc Thesis Plant Breeding

Contents:

Note: This course has a maximum number of participants. The deadline for registration is one week earlier than usual. See Academic Year.(http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/Current-Students/Agenda-Calendar-Academic-Year.htm) -> Registration for Courses.
Note: The period mentioned below is the period in which this course starts. For the exact academic weeks see the courseplanning on www.wur.eu/schedule.

This course aims at preparing students for a career in plant breeding industry or in science. Subjects treated are at a higher integrational level, not only taking into account plant breeding aspects, but regarding all aspects involved, such as environmental issues, products and chain issues, climate change and limiting resources. Subjects treated include new trends and technologies in plant breeding, bio-based economy, climate resilience, new crops, alternative cropping systems, breeding for low-input cropping systems, and breeding for symbiosis between plants and micro-organisms.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- evaluate the challenges of the bio-based economy from the breeding perspective;
- assess morphological and physiological components relevant for the breeding of climate resilient plants;
- design breeding programs on alternative cropping systems, such as mixed cropping systems and low-input cropping systems;
- evaluate breeding possibilities in new crops;
- evaluate novel breeding methods;
- evaluate possibilities of breeding for symbiosis between plants and micro-organisms.

Activities:

- watch knowledge clips ;
- read articles;
- hand-in assignments;
- read scientific literature;
- case study on novel breeding strategies, either focused on scientific research or on implementation in a commercial breeding program.

Examination:

The exam is an online remotely proctored exam, where the student should provide a suitable computer and room.

Literature:

Available through the course website. In addition, students need to search for relevant literature as part of the case study.