.- Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement of Plant
PROF. MATTEO BUSCONI
COURSE AIMS
To give the basic knowledge related to crop species evolution, plant breeding
techniques and selection using classical and modern methods based on
biotechnologies. Evaluation and maintenance of biodiversity and use of molecular
assisted selection techniques in establishing varieties.
COURSE CONTENT
CFU
Origin, domestication and evolution of the cultivated species.
Plant genetic biodiversity.
Origin, domestication and evolution of the cultivated species.
Genetic erosion. Preservation of plant biodiversity. Exploitation of
local varieties.
Genetic Structure of populations. Systems, barriers and genetic
control of reproduction
Reproduction systems. Incompatibility. Malesterility. Apomixis.
Genetic structure of populations: apomictic and vegetatively
propagated species; autogamous species; allogamous species.
Selection methods. Inheritance and heritability of quantitative
traits
Selection for qualitative and quantitative traits. Responses to
selection. Inheritance of quantitative traits. Broad and narrow
sense heritability.
Plant breeding of autogamous and allogamous species
Plant breeding of autogamous (biotic stress resistance) and
allogamous species. Multiline varieties. Varietal constitution in
allogamous species. Synthetic and hybrids varieties. Use of
malesterility.
In vitro cultures and Genetic biotechnologies
Micropropagation. Plant calluses and cellular suspensions.
Somaclonal variation. Somatic hybridization. Haploid plants.
Molecular markers and genomic analysis
Molecular markers definition and classification. Polymerase Chain
Reaction (PCR). PCR based markers.
0.5
0.75
0.5
0.75
0.5
0.5
Genetic engineering
Recombinant DNA technology. Cloning vectors. Gene Libraries.
Sequencing.
Transgenic
plants.
Stable
and
transient
transformation. Molecular pharming.
DNA fingerprinting, gene mapping and marker assisted selection
Genetic variability analysis. DNA fingerprinting. Gene mapping.
Positional cloning. Marker assisted selection (MAS). Linkage
disequilibrium.
Tutorials
Setting up PCR reactions. DNA sequencing. Educational visits at
research institutes.
1.5
1.0
2.0
READING LIST
BARCACCIA G. E FALCINELLI M. GENETICA E GENOMICA. VOL 2 MIGLIORAMENTO GENETICO, VOL 3 GENOMICA
E BIOTECNOLOGIE GENETICHE. LIGUORI EDITORE, NAPOLI, 2012.
TEACHING METHOD
Lectures and laboratory work.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
Final oral exam.
Prof. Matteo Busconi is available to meet with students every day at the Institute of
Agronomy, Genetics and Field Crops.