Plant Breeding and Applied

Genetics Ute AchenbachSummer, 2008

Course Objectives

Comprehend and be able to discuss how breeders meet their breeding goals today as opposed to several decades ago. This requires basic knowledge on classical breeding methods and an understanding on molecular breeding.

Examples will be provided to emphasize the importance of genetics in modern breeding practices.

Learning outcomes

• understand the developments in plant breeding and the state of the art breeding practices (ornamentals vs. crops)

• have some knowledge on the basics of genetics (Mendel, QTL etc.) and understand the idea and the potential of genetic engineering

• have some understanding on the concepts of molecular breeding

• have some (practical) knowledge to apply molecular markers for the identification of traits in the genome

• be able to determine whether information from the internet regarding modern breeding methods are relevant and informative

Date Program

May 13 Introduction (History of Plant Breeding)

May 20 Aspects of Plant Breeding (Breeding goals and recent achievements)

May 27 Tour to Engelmann’s Nursery

Jun 3 Basic genetics (Mendel’s, QTL, Epistasis)

Jun 11 Classical Plant Breeding (Breeding schemes, e.g. Peach)

Jun 17 Applied Plant Breeding

July 1 Molecular Genetics (Tissue culture, e.g. grapes)(Dr. Sadanand Dhekney)

July 8 Molecular Genetics (PCR, Different marker systems)(Dr. Sadanand Dhekney)

July 15 LAB SESSION (PCR)

July 22 DNA fingerprinting and Genetic Engineering (crops and ornamentals)

July 29 Molecular Breeding/ Breeding by design

Aug 5 Exam

History and development of plant breeding

(a journey through time)

13th May 2008

9000 BC First evidence of plant domestication in the hills above the Tigris river

1694 Camerarius first to demonstrate sex in (monoecious) plants and suggested crossing as a method to obtain new plant types

1714 Mather observed natural crossing in maize

1761-1766 Kohlreuter demonstrated that hybrid offspring received traits from both parents and were intermediate in most traits, first scientific hybrid in tobacco

1866 Mendel: Experiments in plant hybridization

1900 Mendel’s laws of heredity rediscovered

1944 Avery, MacLeod, McCarty discovered DNA is hereditary material

1953 Watson, Crick, Wilkins proposed a model for DNA structure

1970 Borlaug received Nobel Prize for the Green Revolution

Berg, Cohen, and Boyer introduced the recombinant DNA technology

1994 ‘FlavrSavr’ tomato developed as first GMO

1995 Bt-corn developed

Selected milestones in plant breeding

National Human Genome Research Institute by Darryl Leja

DNA: nucleic acid that contains all the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms

• Domestication: The process by which people try to control the reproductive rates of animals and plants. Without knowledge on the transmission of traits from parents to their offspring.

• Plant Breeding: The application of genetic analysis to development of plant lines better suited for human purposes.

– Plant Breeding and Selection Methods to meet the food, feed, fuel, and fiber needs of the world

– Genetic Engineering to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of plant breeding.

Prunus persicaSource: Wikipedia

Example: Peach (Prunus persica)

• Originates from China• Introduced to Persia and the

Mediterranean region along the silk route• Trade and cultural interaction

Breeding objectives

• Food (yield and nutritional value), feed, fibre, pharmaceuticals (plantibodies), landscape, industrial need (eg. Crops are being produced in regions to which they are not native).

• Note: Details among plant species vary because of origin, mode of reproduction, ploidy levels, and traits of greater importance and adjustments were made to adapt to specific situations.

Conducting plant breeding

• Traditional/classical breeding: crossing two plants (hybridization)

genetically manipulating??• Variability/ Selection• Recombinant DNA technology

Scientific disciplines and technologies of plant breeding

• Genetics• Botany• Plant physiology• Agronomy• Pathology and entomology• Statistics• Biochemistry

Classic/ traditional tools

Emasculation

Hybidization

Wide crossing

Selection

Chromosome counting

Chromosome doubling

Male sterility

Triploidy

Linkage analysis

Statistical tools

Advanced tools

Mutagenesis

Tissue culture

Haploidy

In situ hybridization

DNA markers

Advanced technology

Molecular markers

Marker-assisted selection

DNA sequencing

Plant genomic analysis

Bioinformatics

Microarray analysis

Primer design

Plant transformation

Basic steps

• Objective

• Germplasm

• Selection

• Evaluation