Plant Breeding and Applied Genetics

Ute Achenbach
Summer, 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 Engelmanns Nursery

Jun 3

Basic genetics (Mendels, 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

Selected milestones in plant breeding

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

Mendels 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

DNA: nucleic acid that

contains all the
genetic instructions
used in the
development and
functioning of all
known living
organisms

National Human Genome Research

Institute by Darryl Leja

 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.

Prunus
persica

Plant Breeding: The application of genetic

analysis to development of plant lines better
suited for human purposes.

Source: Wikipedia

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.

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