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

DateProgram May 13Introduction (History of Plant Breeding) May 20Aspects of Plant Breeding (Breeding goals and recent achievements) May 27Tour to Engelmann’s Nursery Jun 3Basic genetics (Mendel’s, QTL, Epistasis) Jun 11Classical Plant Breeding (Breeding schemes, e.g. Peach) Jun 17Applied Plant Breeding July 1Molecular Genetics (Tissue culture, e.g. grapes) (Dr. Sadanand Dhekney) July 8Molecular Genetics (PCR, Different marker systems) (Dr. Sadanand Dhekney) July 15LAB SESSION (PCR) July 22DNA fingerprinting and Genetic Engineering (crops and ornamentals) July 29Molecular Breeding/ Breeding by design Aug 5Exam

History and development of plant breeding (a journey through time) 13 th May 2008

9000 BC First evidence of plant domestication in the hills above the Tigris river 1694Camerarius first to demonstrate sex in (monoecious) plants and suggested crossing as a method to obtain new plant types 1714Mather observed natural crossing in maize Kohlreuter demonstrated that hybrid offspring received traits from both parents and were intermediate in most traits, first scientific hybrid in tobacco 1866Mendel: Experiments in plant hybridization 1900Mendel’s laws of heredity rediscovered 1944Avery, MacLeod, McCarty discovered DNA is hereditary material 1953Watson, Crick, Wilkins proposed a model for DNA structure 1970Borlaug received Nobel Prize for the Green Revolution Berg, Cohen, and Boyer introduced the recombinant DNA technology 1994‘FlavrSavr’ tomato developed as first GMO 1995Bt-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 persica Source: 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