Summercourse 2014: "Plant Breeding and Plant Sexual Reproduction"
Target Group and Selection
The course is targeted to scientists holding a degree in plant biotechnology and who are in the course of obtaining a PhD in plant science or are already active in the agro-industry. In particular those with limited insight into the implementation of recent developments in molecular tools for plant breeding are encouraged to participate. Participants will be selected based on an abstract submission and CV. In addition to PhD candidates also early post-doc or researchers from non-academic affiliation are also welcome.
The course will provide both theoretical as well as practical training in using DNA sequences and molecular markers in breeding. Participants should be familiar with basic molecular biology and plant genetics.
When?
September 8-12, 2014
Where?
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Ghent University
Coupure Links 653
9000 Gent
Belgium
Look for "Faculty of Bioscience Engineering" on Google Maps
Fee
Course fee:
|
400 Euro 500 Euro |
This fee covers all lectures and practical courses, lecture notes, transport costs to visit a breeding station, lunch, reception, drinks.
The registration fee does not include the hotel or housing costs, and other meals.
Number of places for participants: 16-25
Scholarships/Credits
Doctoral schools offers scholarships for this course (Ugent / KULeuven / VUB).
Participation to this course certifies 3.0 ECTS credits
Certificate of Attendance is provided.
Objectives of the course
The world of today imposes various constraints on agriculture in terms of sustainability, environmental friendliness, customer needs and interest while at the same time demanding high productivity, high quality, and constant supply. The search for cultivars that combine an increasing number of traits is relentless and plays a major role in the improvement of agriculture towards sustainability. Besides the traditional request for more and better, agriculture is undergoing changes in the face of climate change and a shift toward bioenergy production. To accommodate our needs in terms a sustainable production of crops, we will have to turn to innovative approaches in plant breeding.
One of the improvements in plant breeding is the implementation of selection with the help of molecular markers. As it appears these have become indispensable tools to support the conventional breeding programs and are now a routine technique for many crops. Markers are not only helping in selecting the right genotypes, but also help in analysis of quantitative traits, the identification of specific alleles in wild germ plasm and determining hybrid purity.
Plant genomics also brings the promise of improving crops by providing deep insight into the genetic components that form the basis of success of a given cultivar. With the help of whole genome sequences, marker technology will further develop to more advanced applications. In particular the breeding of plants with complex genomes and polyploid genomes, the combination of whole genome sequences and markers will facilitate the commercial breeding process.
Apomixis is an asexual form of reproduction that generates progeny identical to the mother plant. The introduction of apomixis in crops can have a far-reaching influence on how breeding is done in the future. Theoretically, it would allow the fixation of heterozygous phenotypes and therefore would greatly facilitate the maintenance and production of hybrid crops. However, the implementation of apomixis is not straightforward and several difficulties need to be solved. These will be discussed at a special lecture devoted to this topic.
Lecturers
Danny Geelen is professor at the department of Plant Production at the faculty of Bioscience Engineering and teaches plant molecular biology and plant tissue culture. His research team develops novel concepts focusing on various plant processes that are relevant for agriculture. In particular the team is interested in understanding process related to plant sexual reproduction and plant regeneration. The objective is to transfer innovative tools emerging from fundamental research to crop species in collaboration with agricultural industry.
Nico De Storme is a FWO post doc performing research on the role of abiotic stress on plant sexual reproduction. He has expertise in molecular genetics and cytology of gamete formation with specialization in the production of unreduced gametes and polyploidization. Currently he studies plant meiotic recombination.
Isabel Roldan-Ruiz is visiting professor of the faculty of science at Ghent University and full time head of a research unit at ILVO. Isabel teaches Molecular Plant Breeding. She performs research in the area of Molecular markers for breeding and genetic diversity assessment, and published over 100 papers related to this research domain.
Tim Sharbel is head of the Apomixis Research Group at the renowned institute Leibniz-institut for plant genetics and plant breeding. He is interested in evolutionary biology of sexual and asexual reproduction of plants and develops tools to implement apomixis as a trait for future breeding application. Page 3 of 5
Steven Maenhout is founder of Progeno that provides services and information technology to breeders (animal and plant). He is expert in computational aspects of large-scale breeding data analysis and genomic prediction model construction by means of linear mixed models.
Thi Ninh Thuan Nguyen is head of Oilseeds Molecular Breeding in Bayer. She is responsible for global oilseeds molecular breeding activities such as germplasm characterization and enhancement, native trait discovery and molecular breeding processes. She had 10 years working in molecular breeding for rice crop with international breeding teams that delivered diverse product pipelines with disease resistance traits and stress tolerance with high yielding hybrids to farmers. Bayer is the leader in the seed business globally in Oilseeds, Cotton and Rice.
Evert Jacobsen is Professor of Plant Breeding at the Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen University and Research Centre. He has held various positions: with the Board for Breeder's Rights, the Genetic Modification Committee, the Biological Regulations Consultative Body, as a member of the board of the MIBITON life science facilities investment fund and as director of the interuniversity search institute EPS. He is drawing on his extensive knowledge and experience in order to turn the transition processes initiated by TransForum into a success.
Geert Haesaert is full professor of the Faculty of Biosciences engineering at Ghent University and Head of the Department of Applied Biosciences. His research interests include both the theoretical and practical aspects of plant breeding which include the use of marker-assisted selection strategies as well as the design, implementation and analysis of phenotypic (field) trial data. Prof. Haesaert is recognized internationally as a leading expert in Triticale breeding for which he has managed a dedicated breeding program for many years.
Course Leader
prof. Danny Geelen
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Ghent University
Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent
Belgium
Program
| Monday September 8th | |
| 9-12 am | Presentation participants |
| 1-5 pm | Danny Geelen |
| 5-7 pm | Official opening +drink |
| Tuesday September 9th | |
| 9-12am | Geert Haesaert (Basic Principles of Breeding) |
| 1-6 pm | Evert Jacobsen (Principles of Breeding) |
| Wednesday September 10th | |
| 9 am-6 pm | Isabel Roldan-Ruiz (Molecular Markers) |
| Thursday September 11th | |
| 9-12 am | Thi Ninh Thuan Nguyen (Molecular Marker Application in Plant Breeding) |
| 1-4 pm | Tim Sharbel (Apomixis) |
| 4-6 pm | Nico De Storme (Meiotic recombination) |
| Dinner + discussion | |
| Friday September 12th |
|
| 9-12 am | Steven Maenhout (Marker-assisted Breeding Methods) |
| 12-7 pm | Excursion to a breeding company |
Registration
You can apply for this course by downloading the application form and sending the completed form by email to: Patricia.Delaere@ugent.be. Please add your CV and abstract as an attachment in your email.
The closing date for application is July 1st, 2014. All applicants will receive notice as to whether they have been selected for the course by July 15th, 2014.
More info...
Prof.Danny Geelen
Plant Production
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Ghent University
Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 9 264 60 76
Fax: +32 (0) 9 264 62 25
email: danny.geelen@ugent.be