Principles of Plant Breeding

Note 1: This course can not be combined in an individual programme with PBR-23306 Plant Breeding (as this is the online version of that course).
Note 2: The period mentioned below is the period in which this course starts. For the exact academic weeks see the course planning on www.wur.eu/schedule.
Note 3: This course is offered online and it takes about 20 hours to complete the weekly task. There are assignments with deadlines and non-synchronous interaction with teachers and fellow students. An online exam is offered at the end of the course.
Note 4: This is an online course, but it can also be followed by on-campus students after consultation with the course coordinator.

• Explain basic concepts and principles in plant breeding

• Evaluate plant breeding selection programmes in terms of their advantages and limitations

• Choose the appropriate selection method to breed for (certain combinations of) traits

• Select the appropriate breeding strategy, taking into account the mode of reproduction of the crop of interest

• Indicate the key features, advantages and challenges in the production of F1 hybrid cultivars

• Analyse observations to separate genetic and non-genetic components of variation, including estimation of heritability

• Discuss the consequences of chimerism in mutants, and the implications of ploidy differences in breeding material

• Written test with open questions (100%) Closed-book exam. Mixture of open questions and some multiple choice questions

Mendelian genetics.

The exam takes place using Remote Proctoring, which is different than digital examinations on-campus. Students unfamiliar with this system should carefully test it beforehand by following all directions given via the Student Support "screen steps" instructions (https://wur-studentsupport.screenstepslive.com/m/106158/c/365541).

• Recommended: G. Acquaah, 2012. Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2nd Edition Wiley-Blackwell