Jordan University of Science and Technology
Faculty of Agriculture
Department of Plant Production
2nd Semester 2006/2007
Course Information
Course Title
Plant breeding
Course Number
PP 411
Prerequisites
PP314, PP311
Course Website
Instructor
Dr. Mohammed Al Ajlouni
Office Location
M1L2
Office Phone
22240
Office Hours
Sunday 11-12, Monday and Wednesday 1-2.
E-mail
majl@just.edu.jo.
Teaching Assistant
Course Description
This course will concentrate on the basic principles of plant breeding and genetics, the breeding
methods for economic crops using plant selection, hybridizations and the other related subjects.
Text Book
Title
Breeding Field Crops
Author(s)
John Milton Poehlman and David Allen Sleper
Publisher
Iowa State University Press
Year
1995
Edition
4th Edition
http://www.isupress.edu
Book Website
References
Assessment Policy
Assessment Type
Expected Due Date
Weight
First Exam
March 26, 2007
20%
Second Exam
April 30, 2007
20%
Final Exam
Assignments
Class activities + term paper
Course Objectives
1. Fostering student understanding of genetic principles
underlining plant improvement.
40%
20%
Weights
30%
2. Understanding plant improvement methods including self,
cross-pollinated and sexually propagated methods.
30%
3. Promote critical thinking in relation to improvement
strategies and methods.
20%
4.
Discuss examples of problems facing plant breeders and
approaches to overcome them.
20%
Teaching & Learning Methods
1. Lectures using the power point facility.
2. Home works and assignments.
3. Prepare term paper on one related subjects using at least three Journal articles.
Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
Related Objective(s)
Outcomes
Reference(s)
1
Chapter 2 and Handouts
-Understanding the genetic principles
and their relation with plant breeding.
1,2
- Knowing how to create and use
genetic variation in crop
improvement.
- Knowing the most important stages
for establishing a breeding program.
3,4
- Understanding the major crop
improvement methods.
-Identified
the
main
obstacles
hindering plant breeding business.
Useful Resources
The internet
Course Content
Week
1
2-3
Topics
1. Introduction
- What is plant breeding?
- Plant breeder's role.
2. The genetic bases of plant breeding.
- Reproduction in crop breeding.
- Genetic recombination and plant breeding.
- Quantitative inheritance and plant breeding.
Chapter in Text (handouts)
1
2-4
4-5
6-9
10
3. Tools of the plant breeder
- Variation in chromosomal number.
- Mutation.
- Fertility Regulating Mechanisms.
4. Methods of plant breeding.
- Breeding self-pollinated crops.
- Breeding cross-pollinated crops.
- Breeding asexually propagated crops.
1st Exam.
5. Breeding objectives and techniques.
5-7
9-11
12
6. Germplasm resources for breeding crop plants.
11-12
13
2nd Exam
13-14
7. Applications: breeding field crops;
- Self-pollinated: wheat.
- Cross-pollinated: corn
15
8. Maintenance and seed production of improved
cultivars.
16
9. Final Exam Week
Additional Notes
Assignments
Exams
Cheating
Attendance
Workload
Graded Exams
Participation
Laboratory
Projects
14, 17
23