Plant Molecular Breeding to Meet the
Challenges of Climate Change
July 7 - July 18, 2014 at BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life
Sciences Vienna, Campus Tulln.
Introduction
Global changes are expected to have a huge impact on future food crop production.
The challenge is to provide sufficient high quality food, feed and fibre to meet the
increasing demand due to changes in consumer behaviour of a still growing world
population. At the same time we are facing limited natural resources, particularly
land, water and energy. The plant breeding and seed sector is the first component in
crop plant production and plays a fundamental role in sustainable agriculture. The
huge challenge for plant breeders is to at least keep or even increase genetic gains
per year. The backbone of traditional breeding schemes relies on cost and labor
intensive field trials. Now, recent developments in large scale sequence and genome
analysis enable researchers and breeders to gain insight in genomes at an
unprecedented dimension. Molecular tools, such as marker-assisted breeding and
genomic selection aim to complement or even replace predictions of breeding values
from field trials with predictions based on genetic fingerprints.
This course will introduce students to the fundamental principles of quantitative
genetics relevant for plant breeders. We will teach aspects of genetic mapping,
association mapping and genomic selection. We will present plant breeding research
examples with particular relevance for adaptation of crops to a changing
environment.
Course format
June 2014: preparatory phase - self study: all accepted students will receive several
key articles and/or texts for self-study 3-4 weeks before the on-site course. This will
be necessary to ensure all participants are to the same knowledge level before the
course starts.
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July Monday 7 to Friday 11, 2014, on-site, week 1: Theory and applications of
quantitative genetics in a plant breeding context: estimation of genetic effects and
variances, association mapping, genomic selection.
July Monday 14 to Friday 18, 2014, on-site week 2: Examples of breeding
applications, with an emphasis on adaptation to climate change, demonstrations and
one day excursion to a medium-sized plant breeding company in Austria.
Teachers and indicative topics (program still under development)
Hermann Buerstmayr, BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences,
Vienna, Austria: course coordinator.
Peter Langridge, Australian Center for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG),
Adelaide, Australia (http://www.acpfg.com.au/profiles.php?linkid=20&profileid=1):
molecular genetics, genomics and breeding for abiotic stress resistance.
Gustavo de los Campos, Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at
Birmingham, USA (http://www.soph.uab.edu/ssg/people/campos): quantitative and
statistical genetics, association mapping and genomic selection.
Karl Schmid, University of Hohenheim, Germany: quantitative and statistical
genetics, estimation of genetic variances and genetic means.
Monika Rakoczy-Trojanowska, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland:
genomic selection for abiotic stress resistance.
Rodomiro Ortiz, SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden:
germplasm enhancement for abiotic stress adaptation.
Gernot Bodner, BOKU Vienna: phenotyping for abiotic stress resistance, particularly
drought.
Ahmad M. Manschadi. BOKU Vienna: nutrient use efficiency, especially
phosphorous efficiency in crops.
Johann Vollmann, BOKU Vienna: New crops for a changing environment: adapting
soybean seed quality to European needs.
Kirsten vom Brocke: CIRAD Montpellier, France: Plant breeding from a different
viewpoint: participatory plant breeding for less developed regions.
Learning outcomes
• Knowledge
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Identify and express plant genetics theory relevant for understanding plant breeding
issues and targets. Understand the theory, methodology and potential application of:
mapping quantitative traits, association mapping, marker-assisted breeding and
genomic selection in a plant breeding context
• Skills
Apply plant genetics methods to mapping population and /or breeding population
using field phenotypic data.
Assess and evaluate impacts of different breeding strategies on food, feed, fibre and
fuel.
• Competences
Apply theory and adequate methods on breeding of crop plants, including
genotyping, phenotyping. Analyze statistical genetics and quantitative genetics data
using or the statistical language R, working with matrix algebra in a quantitative
genetics context.
Discuss and evaluate interdisciplinary solutions.
Work independently and cooperate interdisciplinary in groups of international
students.
Schedule
The detailed schedule will be announced later and sent out to the accepted
participants. We plan for 6-7 working hours per day.
Credits
5 ECTS
Language
English
Application
Please fill in the application form and add one supporting letter from one of your
university teachers (if applicable). Send both to: [email protected]
Deadline for application: March 31, 2014
Note: Only a limited number of spots are available: apply as soon as possible!
Selection
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Participants will be selected by a selection committee of the ELLS subject area group
Plant Biotechnology and Breeding. Applicants will be informed about acceptance in
the second half of April.
Information
During the preparatory phase at home participants will have access to recommended
literature for course preparation and self-study.
Course format: Mix of lectures, demonstrations, self-study and practical course work
particularly estimation of genetic effects, and genomic predictions of quantitative
traits. Statistical data analysis will be done using R (http://www.r-project.org/).
Important: YOU HAVE TO BRING YOUR OWN PC NOTEBOOK for data analysis.
Required Level: The course is aimed at students in agricultural sciences or related
subjects. This course is particularly suitable for students in their master study phase,
preferably those who already work on a master or PhD thesis in the field of plant
breeding, or at least plan to perform their thesis in this field. A sound basic
understanding of general genetics, statistical data analysis, and plant breeding is a
pre-requisite for this course.
Social Programme: will be announced later, but there are many things to do. Tulln is
a laid-back, but pleasant town. The tourist hot-spot Vienna is only a 20 minutes train
ride away.
There are lots of options to spend your evenings.
On the weekend hiking in the nearby Alps or the Danube valley (Wachau), a cycling
tour or a tourist tour through imperial Vienna are possible options.
Location
BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Campus Tulln.
Department for Agrobiotechnology Tulln, Institute for Biotechnology in Plant
Production.
Konrad Lorenz Str. 20
A-3430 Tulln, Austria
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www.ifa-tulln.ac.at
Accommodation
Tulln has some several private guest houses and hotels. Vienna is close, easy to
reach, and has many hotels and guest houses. A list of possible places to stay will be
sent to registered and accepted students.
Cost
Travel and accommodation cost is at your own expense. We will assist you in finding
a place to stay. Room prices in Tulln are 25 – 45 € per night (in shared double
rooms).
We will charge a fee of € 150,- from each participant for covering lunches, drinks and
coffee during the course from Mondays to Fridays. Weekends are at your own
expense.
We will inform you after confirmation about payment details.
Contact for technical questions
Mrs. Gerlinde Kindler
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +43 2272 66280 202
Coordination
Prof. Hermann Buerstmayr
Konrad Lorenz Str. 20
3430 Tulln.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +43 2272 66280 201
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