This course will serve as a general introduction to the principles of plant breeding and biotechnology.  Breeding and biotechnology are central to anyone who works with plants as most cultivated plants have been impacted using breeding and biotechnological approaches.  We will examine concepts relevant to students in marker assisted plant breeding, genome editing, tissue culture, omics approaches and application of bioinformatics in plant breeding. The course content will present a broad range of applicable information regarding the improvement of a wide range of crops, including both agronomic and horticultural crop species.

Course description:

1. History and Significance of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
2. Plant Genetics Review
3. Marker-Assisted Selection
4. Omics approaches and Plant Breeding
5. Applications of tissue culture in Plant Breeding
6. Genes of Interest, Gene Transfer Methods, Regulating transgene expression, Model transformation systems, Regulatory considerations for transgenics: laboratory and commercial, Genome editing
7. ΝCBI database and use in Plant Breeding

Teaching aids: "Plant Biotechnology" by P. Xatzopoulos

Examination: Assays and written