PLSCI 4030

Genetic Improvement of Crop Plants

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2024-2025.

Genetic enhancement of crop value to humans began with domestication and continues with farmers' variety development and scientifically trained plant breeders' applications of Mendelian, quantitative, and molecular genetics. This course examines crop genetic improvement methods by discussing the history and current practice of plant breeding, tools available to breeders, decision-making about breeding objectives and methods, and the roles of plant breeding in addressing global challenges including climate change, sustainability, equity, food security, and malnutrition.

When Offered Fall.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: BIOMG 2800 or PLSCI 2250 or other standard genetics course, plus a course in crops or horticulture.

Distribution Category (OPHLS-AG)
Course Attribute (CU-SBY)

• Value the contribution of Indigenous groups in domestication of modern crops and their cultural significance.
• Explain the genetics that control plant characteristics and how genes can be manipulated to improve plant traits.
• Describe the reproductive mechanisms in crop and horticultural plants.
• Explain the range of phenotypic traits that are important targets for genetic improvement of plants, and the social and environmental contexts of their trait values
• Describe the range of phenotypic and genomic selection techniques and approaches used by plant breeders.
• Explain the different approaches used to breed self- and cross-pollinated crops and the development of hybrids.
• Describe recurrent selection techniques.
• Describe the roles of tissue culture and genetic transformation in plant improvement.
• Explore the contributions of plant breeding to agriculture and food systems.
• Summarize concisely in writing the objectives, main results, and conclusions described in primary research papers in plant breeding and genetics.

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