This course aims to provide the theoretical and practical bases of biotechnologies applied to the plant improvement, by the complementary use of molecular genetics (gene isolation and transfer, use of molecular markers, etc.) and genomics.
Plant Breeding. Basic and molecular genetics of quantitative traits, heritability, response to selection. Molecular markers and identification of Quantitative Trait Loci. Methods of breeding of autogamous, allogamous and vegetatively propagated species. Molecular breeding. Induction of genetic variability in plants by interspecific crosses, induction of polyploidy, and experimental mutagenesis.
Plant Genomics. Characteristics of plant genomes and transcriptomes. Experimental procedures for sequencing the genome of cultivated plants. Genetic engineering of crop plants.