AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
Department of 
Faculty of Crop Science

Biotechnology and Plant Breeding

Content

Definition of biotechnology, applications of biotechnology in plant improvement. Structure and function of genetic material. Review of Key Concepts. Molecular markers. Categories of molecular markers. Description. Genetic linkage. Physical mapping. Genetic mapping. Gene mapping based on genetic linkage. Applications of molecular markers in plant breeding. Marker assisted selection and the use of molecular markers in classical breeding programs (mass selection, recurrent selection, backcross). Gene pyramiding using molecular markers. Identification of varieties with favorable agronomical traits. QTL mapping. Genomics and plant breeding. Study and organization of plant genomes. Genomic DNA libraries. Structural genomics. Sequencing plant genomes. Comparative genomics. Functional genomics. Transcriptomic analysis. Proteomic analysis. Metabolite analysis. Phenotypic analysis (phenomics). Analysis of gene function. Applications of -omic technologies in plant breeding. Epigenetics and plant improvement Methods of genetic modification. Modern techniques. Utilization in Plant Improvement. Gene editing techniques. Applications of tissue culture in plant improvement. Cryopreservation of plant material and utilization in plant breeding. Bioinformatics and applications in plant breeding.

Learning results

This course will serve as a general introduction to the principles of plant breeding through biotechnology. Breeding and biotechnology is of particular importance to plant scientists since most cultivated plants are the product of breeding through both classical and modern approaches. The goal of the course is to integrate all of the knowledge that students have learned in order to comprehend how biotechnology is applied to plant breeding. Emphasis is given on the understanding of the integration of all modern techniques related to plant biotechnology to improve the crops. The teaching of the course creates an interdisciplinary environment since it is provided by faculty members with different subject areas.

Bibliography

“Principles of plant genetics and breeding” by Acquaah, George._3rd edition SBN: 978-1-119-62632-9 December 2020 Wiley-Blackwell

Faculty

+30 2105294629
marog@aua.gr
Teaching Staff with expertise in "Plant Breeding and Biometry" Office: Papadakis Building, 1st Floor, […]
(+30)2105294622
vpapasot@aua.gr
Professor at the Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Plant […]
(+30)2105294625
etani@aua.gr
Assistant Professor at the Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of […]

NEWSLETTER

The Faculty of Crop Science of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), was founded in June 1989 (Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic Νο. 166Α΄/16-6-1989) it is the first University Faculty of Crop Science founded in Greece
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