The course describes breeding plants for biotic and abiotic stresses with special emphasis on vegetable breeding. The topics covered include: Resistance to diseases and pests; Qualitative and quantitative aspects of resistance; Mechanisms of resistance; Breeding strategies towards resistant vegetable cultivars; Resistance to abiotic stress factors; Plant abiotic stress response; Traits for abiotic stress breeding; Classical approaches and  genomics tools for abiotic stress breeding in vegetables.

Course description:

1.   Introduction to vegetable breeding and plant resistance.

2. Plant defense and principles of plant resistance: plant defense, resistance (definition, types of plant resistance), host-parasite interaction (expression, understanding, reaction), factors affecting plant resistance expression. Breeding strategy and methods used in building up resistance. Genetic engineering/ biotechnology and production of resistant lines and varieties.

3.   Vegetable breeding for biotic stresses: asexually propagated vegetables (artichoke, garlic, some species of onion etc.), self-pollinated crops (tomato, lettuce, green pepper etc.), cross-pollinated crops (cucumber, courgette, melon, watermelon, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, onion etc.

4. Plant responces to abiotic stresses. Drought. Salt stress. Extreme temperatures. Anoxia. Breeding vegetables for resistance to abiotic stresses.

Teaching aids: "Improvement of Plant Resistance and Vegetable Breeding" by Y. Symillides

Examination: Oral and written