1. Outline you opinions as to why mankind changed from being a hunter-gatherer to a
farmer. [5 points].
“Plant breeders have been solely responsible for the dramatic increase in crop yields observed over the past century” Discuss this comment. [5 points].

2. What & Where Common Botanical Origin Rice Oryza sative Hordium vulgare
Syria/Jordan
Soybean
Glyciner max
Potato
Peru
Sugar beet
Med. Europe

3. What & Where Common Botanical Origin Rice Oryza sative China/Thailand
Barley
Hordium vulgare
Syria/Jordan
Soybean
Glyciner max
N. China
Potato
Solanum tuberosum
Peru
Sugar beet
Beta vulgaris
Med. Europe

4. Using these three inbred genotypes (X, A, and B) show how you could produce hybrid seed for commercial development. [5 points].
X, cms, rfrf x A, nor, rfrf
XC, cms, rfrf x B, nor, RfRf
Hybrid, cms, Rfrf
(Fertile)

5. A successful hybrid corn program has identified 6 parents (labeled A, B, C, D, E, and F). These lines were crossed in a half diallel design and the pair-wise hybrids evaluated in field trials. From these trials the following yields (t/ha) were obtained.
A x B = 100 A x C = 120 A x D = 119
A x E = 97 A x F = 117 B x C = 125
B x D = 111 B x E = 122 B x F = 97
C x D = 108 C x E = 107 C x F = 121
D x E = 106 D x F = 120 E x F = 102
From this data select the ‘best’ two parent hybrid, and what would be the expected yield

6. What is the difference between apospory and diplospory. [ 4 points].
Briefly describe the major features of the following cultivar types:
Hybrid cultivar:
Synthetic cultivar:
Multiline cultivar:
[9 points].

7. You have been appointed as senior alfalfa breeder at the Hay – how you doing, Seed Company. Outline (using diagrams as necessary) the breeding scheme you will use to develop new synthetic alfalfa cultivars [7 points].

8. Develop Clonal Nursery
Select the phynotypically “best” clones
Rep.1
Rep.2
Rep.3
Rep.4
Rep.5
Rep.6
Randomized mating trial
Rep.7
Rep.8
Rep.9
Rep.10
Rep.11
Rep.12
Rep.13
Rep.14
Evaluate progeny to determine genotypically “best” clones
Select parents in synthetic

9. What factors does a successful plant breeder have to consider before setting suitable breeding objectives – explain the importance of each factor [7 points].
What are the most important features of an effective end-use quality assessment scheme used in plant breeding [3 points].

10. What are the main differences between:
resistance due to inhibition of infection and resistance due to growth after infection.
Tolerance and escape.

11. Plant Pest Resp A_B_ccDDee aabbccDDEE aaB_C_ddE_ AabbccDDEE aaB_ccddE_
Determine the response of the each plant when exposed to the pathogen (i.e. resistant or susceptible) [4 points].
Plant
Pest
Resp
A_B_ccDDee
aabbccDDEE
aaB_C_ddE_
AabbccDDEE
aaB_ccddE_
aaBbccddee
Aabbccddee

12. Plant Pest Resp A_B_ccDDee aabbccDDEE Res aaB_C_ddE_ AabbccDDEE Susc
Determine the response of the each plant when exposed to the pathogen (i.e. resistant or susceptible) [4 points].
Plant
Pest
Resp
A_B_ccDDee
aabbccDDEE
Res
aaB_C_ddE_
AabbccDDEE
Susc
aaB_ccddE_
aaBbccddee
Aabbccddee

13. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of a pedigree breeding scheme and a bulk breeding scheme for developing inbred cultivars [6 points].
Design and describe (using diagrams as necessary) a suitable pedigree/bulk breeding scheme for breeding improved spring barley cultivars. Clearly label each stage, and indicate the numbers of phenotypes that you would expect to evaluate at each stage [6 points].

14. F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9-10 Crossing F1 Cultivar Early yield trials
                        
                        
Single Plants F3
Head row 1 F4
Bulk yield 1 F5
Bulk yield 2 F6
Head row 2 F7
Bulk yield 3 F8
Early yield trials
F9-10
Cultivar
Advanced yield trials

15. Yellow strip rust epidemics in northern Idaho are common
Yellow strip rust epidemics in northern Idaho are common. No plant resistance has been identified in any of the adapted cultivars available. However, an unadapted spring barley cultivar from northwestern Europe (‘McMalter’) has been shown to have a single dominant gene (RR) which offers qualitative resistance to the Idaho race of yellow strip rust. Your aim is to develop a cultivar which has over 95% the genotype of the highest yielding and stable local cultivar (‘Enron Gold’). Outline all the stages of the breeding operation [7 points].

16. Briefly explain the meaning of distinctness, uniformity and stability as referred to in cultivar development. [6 points].
Describe the major differences between how the value for cultivation and use of a new cultivar is determined in the USA compared to the UK. Briefly outline which you think is the better scheme. [4 points].