Course overview
Genetic manipulation in plants has underpinned improvements in productivity and has enhanced sustainability of farming systems worldwide. As well, plant genetic diversity is fundamental to understand adaptation in natural systems. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of plant breeding and plant adaptation that are applicable to agricultural and natural systems. Extensive industry engagement is also undertaken as part of the course curriculum where students connect with industry leaders in the plant breeding discipline, whether in broad-acre cropping (e.g. wheat, barley, canola, faba bean breeding) or horticulture (e.g. almond breeding). The topics covered include: genetic diversity in relation to adaptation, productivity, pest and disease resistance and end-use quality; strategies for setting breeding objectives and maximising selection and improvement of key traits; breeding methodologies for self or cross pollinated plants.
Course learning outcomes
- Describe sources and types of genetic variation andexplain their importance for plant improvement.
- Describe the progression of stages within a modern breedingprogramme from the setting of breeding objectives, through the development andimplementation of breeding strategies to the commercialisation of plantvarieties and the protection of intellectual property.
- Describe methods that are used in plant breeding.
- Locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise informationrelevant to plant breeding.
- Judge which plant breeding methods are appropriate forspecific objectives and situations.
- Formulate and justify a plan for the application of plantbreeding methods to achieve a specific objective.
- Carry out specific plant breeding activities, such asselection of parental germplasm, observation and recording of phenotypicvariation and selection among progeny.