Inheritance of qualitative and quantitative traits; fundamentals of population genetics; classical and biotechnological methods of crops genetic improvement.
Technical-practical workshops.
Barcaccia G., Falcinelli M. – Genetica e genomica – Vol. 1, 2, 3 (Liguori editore)
Teaching material provided by the lecturers.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge: inheritance of qualitative and quantitative traits; fundamentals of population genetics; classical and biotechnological techniques for genetic improvement.
Skills acquired during the course: use of a specific vocabulary for the covered topics; ability to establish which genetic improvement methods are most suitable for different species and contexts; comprehension and evaluation of scientific and technological progresses for genetic improvement.
These skills can be used in professional activity and in the fields related to the genetic improvement of cultivated plants.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge in Plant Biology and Genetics are required.
Teaching Methods
Lectures and exercises.
Further information
Attendance to classes and other activities, although not mandatory, is strongly recommended.
Type of Assessment
Preparation of a written paper on the genetic improvement of a crop and oral exam including the discussion of the paper.
Paper aims to prove that the student, in addition to the acquisition of specific knowledge, achieved the ability to elaborate and correlate the topics examined during the course.
Course program
COURSE INTRODUCTION: references to Mendelian and molecular genetics; linkage and recombination.
POPULATION GENETICS: allelic and genotypic frequencies; Hardy-Weinberg principle; agents of microevolution; relative fitness and selection coefficient.
QUANTITATIVE GENETICS: genetic basis of quantitative traits; heritability in the broad and narrow sense; selection response.
CONTROL OF THE REPRODUCTIVE PROCESSES OF PLANTS: sexual and asexual reproduction; autogamy and allogamy; self-incompatibility and male sterility: mechanisms, molecular basis and use in genetic improvement.
METHODS OF GENETIC IMPROVEMENT: populations genetic structure and genetic improvement methods in autogamous, allogamous and vegetative propagation plants.
MOLECULAR MARKERS AND USES IN GENETIC IMPROVEMENT: genetic and molecular markers; marker-assisted selection; quantitative trait loci.
GENETIC VARIABILITY INDUCTION: spontaneous and induced mutations; use of mutagenesis for genetic improvement; polyploidy and genetic improvement; interspecific hybridization. New technologies for genetic improvement: genetic transformation and genome editing.
TECHNICAL-PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS
WHEAT: Origin and evolution; genetics and improvement; seed activity.
RICE: genetic improvement; seed activity; National Rice Authority.
PESCO: Genetic improvement; varietal improvement; rootstocks.
LIVES: Genetic improvement; clonal selection.
TOMATO: Genetic improvement; genomics; parthenocarpy; Aucsia genes; Nunhems activity; industrial varieties, ancient table varieties, and local varieties.