Genetic Resources in Crop Breeding: Conservation, Characterization and Utilization
17-28 August 2015, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Alnarp, Sweden
Introduction
There is a demand in Europe for young professionals with a basic understanding of classical plant breeding. Ever since the early 20th century re-discovery of Gregor Mendel´s groundbreaking work, knowledge about the genetic resources have been at the very heart of modern plant breeding. This course will introduce the students to the increasingly important field of conservation of genetic resources available for plant breeding, as well as how to characterize these genetic resources, and ultimately make use of them in practical plant breeding. A mix of lectures, case study and study visits to a genebank and plant breeding companies will provide an excellent learning experience. Leading experts in their field will be teaching the course.
Course contents
Preparatory phase (July-August 2015): All accepted students will receive several key articles for self-study at least one month before the beginning of the course. This preparation will be necessary to ensure all participants are at the same level of knowledge before the course starts.
Week 1, on-site (17-21 August 2015): Theory and applications of Conservation and Characterization of genetic resources in a plant breeding context.
Genebank management
In situ conservation
Major international collections
Genebanks in the genomics age
Quantitative genetics
Molecular markers
Study visit to Nordic Genetic Resource Centre
Case studies
Week 2, on-site (24-28 August 2015): Theory and applications of Utilization of genetic resources in a plant breeding context.
Breeding strategies in different crops
Molecular markers
Genomic selection and association mapping
Integrating phenotypic and genotypic information
Extending the genetic resource base
Intellectual property rights
Study visits to plant breeding companies Lantmännen Lantbruk and Syngenta Seeds AB.
Case studies
Schedule
Please find updated detailed course schedule here.
Teachers and Indicative topics Hermann Bürstmayr, BOKU, Vienna, Austria: breeding of self-fertilizing crops.
Søren Rasmussen, KU, Copenhagen, Denmark: molecular markers, induced mutation breeding.
Rodomiro Ortíz, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden: genomics, breeding of cross-fertilizing crops.
Torbjörn Säll , LU, Lund, Sweden: quantitative genetics.
Jan Svensson, NordGen, Sweden: genebanks, conservation of genetic resources.
Anna Palmé, NordGen, Sweden: genebanks, conservation of genetic resources.
Nigel Maxted, University of Birmingham, England: in situ conservation of genetic resources.
Hilde Nybom, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden: fruit trees and berries
Roland von Bothmer, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden: international collections, Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
Li-Hua Zhu, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden: biotechnological tools in plant breeding.
Mulatu Dida Geleta, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden: molecular markers.
Eva Thörn, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden: genetic resources and intellectual property rights.
Ulrika Carlson-Nilsson, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden: breeding of vegetatively propagated crops.
Erik Alexandersson, SLU, Alnarp, Sweden: integrating phenomics and genomics.
Level
This course targets students in agricultural or plant sciences, or related subjects. It is particularly suitable for students in their master study phase. Also early (first- and second-year) PhD students are accepted, depending on available places. A sound basic understanding of general genetics (including quantitative and population genetics) and plant breeding is a pre-requisite for this course.
Credits
5 ECTS
Language
English
Location
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Alnarp, Sweden
Literature
During the self-preparatory phase at home, participants will have access to recommended literature for course preparation.
Examination
The examination consists of written reports and oral presentations. To pass the course, approved written case study reports, pass in the oral presentations of the case studies, and participation in compulsory components are required. Compulsory components include the study visits and attendance at a minimum of 90% of the scheduled lectures.
Social Programme
There will be a guided campus/park tour and a welcome barbecue the first evening.
For those who do not wish to study during the weekend, we recommend swimming at the Lomma beach (1km), renting a bicycle for a country-side tour, and visiting the old and traditional university city of Lund (12km) and the dynamic hipster-city of Malmö (10km).
Accommodation
Students' Hall of Residence, on-campus. These rooms are limited to 15 students and will be available on a first-to-apply basis. If necessary, we will assist the remaining foreign students to find lodging.
Cost
There is no course fee. Travel, accommodation and food is at your own expense. A room in the Students´ Hall of Residence costs 2000 SEK (~220 Euros) for the two weeks (16-28 Aug).
There is a lunch restaurant on campus where a regular meal is about 70 SEK (~8 Euros). There are also restaurants and supermarkets available in the nearby villages Lomma and Burlöv.
Application
Please fill in the application form and send it to Dr. Dennis Eriksson by e-mail or post (see contact information below).
Deadline: April 30, 2015 or until places are filled. The number of participants is limited to 30.
Contact
Course coordinator, main contact for technical questions:
Dr. Dennis Eriksson, PhD Education Coordinator, Plant Link P.O. Box 102 SE-23053 Alnarp, Sweden Phone: +46 (0)73 5669522 E-mail: dennis.eriksson@tbiokem.lth.se
Course responsible: Prof. Rodomiro Ortíz Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Department of Plant Breeding P.O. Box 101 SE-23053 Alnarp, Sweden E-mail: rodomiro.ortiz@slu.se
