The University of Jordan
Faculty of Agriculture
Dept. Horticulture & Crop Science
------ Semester, 201-/201-
Quantitative Genetics in Plant Breeding
(0601933)
Instructors:
Name
Dr. Muhanad Akash,
Office
Number
291
Phone
22340
E-mail
Hours
TBA
makash@ju.edu.jo
Course Objectives:
The course objective is to introduce models and tools to students and apply them in a
variety of contexts to enable students to approach and resolve quantitative problems in
their own genetical research.
Learning Outcomes:
A) knowledge and understanding:
This course is oriented toward understanding genotypic and environmental values,
their effects and interactions, homeostasis, stability analyses, variances and
covariances, combining ability analyses, genetic advance from selection, index
selection, molecular markers in plant breeding, and quantitative trait loci (QTL)
mapping.
B) Intellectual skills (cognitive and analytical):
a. Achieve maximum benefits from quantitative experiments.
b. Ability to interpret results efficiently
C) Subject specific skills:
a. Understand wide range of quantitative topics
b. Computer software applications
D) Transferable skills
a. Ability to emphasis on laboratory-oriented sciences research problems
b. Using scientific software
c. Data analysis and interpretation
d. Presentation and discussion
Teaching Methods:
1. Duration:
16 weeks, 48 hours in total
2. Lectures:
2 per week (including one 1-hour exams)
3. Assignments: to be notified
1
Testes and Evaluations:
1. Exams:
a. Mid exam
25%
b. Second exam
25%
c. Final exam
40%
2. Quizzes, assignments, presentation, open discussions
10%
Assignments: Assignments/practical exercises on specific topics will be given as
needed. Each assignment must be turned in when due to earn full credit
Course Contents and Schedule
Topics
# Lectures
1. Introduction
1
2. Inbreeding, Coancestry
1
3. Half sibs, Full sibs (variances)
1
4. Epistatic variances, Combining ability
1
5. Diallel method I, II, III and IV
2
6. Computerized diallel analyses (Statistical Analysis System) 1
7. Generation Mean Analysis
1
8. North Carolina Designs I, II, and III
1
9. Additive Genetic Correlations
1
10. Heritability and Genetic Advance
1
11. Correlated Response
0.5
12. Selection indices construction & evaluation
1
13. Molecular Markers in Plant Breeding
1
14. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Mapping
1
15. Computer Software Applications
1.5
2
Textbook
- Kang M. S. Applied Quantitative Genetics. 1994.
- Falconer, D.S., and T.F.C. Mackay. 1996. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics. 4th ed.
Prentice Hall, Harlow, U.K.
References and Supporting Material
- Lynch, M., and B. Walsh. 1998. Genetics and analysis of quantitative traits. Sinauer
Associates, Sunderland, MA.
- Walsh, B., and M. Lynch. Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits.
- Hallauer, A.R., and .T. B. Miranda. 1988. Quantitative Genetics in Maize Breeding. Iowa
State University Press.
- Kang, M. S., and H. G. Gauch, .Ir. 1996. Genotype-by-Environment Interaction. CRC
Press, Boca Raton, FL.
- Kang, M. S. 2002. Quantitative genetics, genomics and plant breeding. CABI, NY
- Dudley, J. W. 1997. Quantitative genetics and plant breeding. Advances in Agronomy 59:
1-23.
- Kang, M. S. 1998. Using genotype-by-environment interaction for crop cultivar
development. Advances in Agronomy 62: 199-252.
- Nyquist, W. E. 1991. Estimation of heritability and prediction of selection response in
plant populations. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 10 :235-322.
3