Module: Breeding of Tropical, Ornamental, and Vegetable Plants (3501-480)

Persons:

• Prof.Dr.Dr Albrecht Melchinger (verantwortlich)

Degree Program:

• Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics and Subtropics (until WS 2018/19) (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  2. Semester, elective
• Crop Sciences - Plant Breeding and Seed Science (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  2. Semester, elective
• Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics and Subtropics (from WS 2019/20 on) (Master, since 01.10.2019)
  2. Semester, elective

Relation to other Modules:

Important for a profound understanding of the role and tremendous contribution of plant breeding towards sustainable agriculture and horticulture, food security and reduced malnutrition in developing countries. Awareness about genetic diversity as production system component.

Prerequisites for Attendance:

Knowledge about basic genetic, population-genetic and biological principles of plant breeding; knowledge of breeding categories and respective breeding methodology (3501-450). Knowledge about tropical crops and crop production and vegetable production systems is highly desirable.

Sprache:

English

ECTS:

7,5 credits

Frequency:

every summer semester

Length of the Module:

4 weeks (block 3)

Compulsory assignment:

Two presentations with handout and discussion (20 % each)

Final examination:

written exam (60%) and seminar work (40%)

Length of the examination:

120 minutes

Workload:

70 h presence + 130 h preparation at home + exam = 200 h workload

Professional competences:

After successfully completing the module, students understand the role of plant breeding in tropical crop production and horticulture and the basic breeding methodologies including biotechnological tools. They can point out specific aspects of plant breeding in the tropics and subtropics, such as breeding for wide versus specific adaptation, farmer-participatory breeding and production systems-oriented breeding. Students are acquainted with yield stability and food security as breeding objectives in extreme stress environments, breeding of underutilized crops, crop improvement targeting reduction of malnutrition, the role of international and national agricultural research centers, the role of interdisciplinary work, gender issues, conservation and use of plant genetic resources in plant breeding, breeding goals and approaches for ornamental and vegetable plant species. In the seminars, in the interdisciplinary group work and during the excursion, students apply their knowledge of plant breeding methodology to tropical, ornamental and vegetable plants.

Key competences:

During preparation for the exam, while preparing and following up on lectures (which integrate group work on specific themes) and while preparing the seminar presentations, students enhance their organizational skills, self-reliance, time management and team work. They learn and practice both critical and analytical thinking and reading of scientific literature to prepare the seminars, while generally improving their ability of exploring a scientific subject. While preparing the seminars, students improve their scientific articulateness and further improve their oral communication skills, presentation techniques and discourse capacities through presenting their work. Giving feedback to others is also practised. Students finally learn to see plant breeding in an interdisciplinary context.

Comments:

The two seminar presentations (compulsory assignments) refer to individual oral presentations of 10 minutes each on (a) a tropical crop and (b) a vegetable or ornamental plant species.
In relation to the seminar topic assignment, a binding registration to the following email-adress untill April 30 is necessary: i350a@uni-hohenheim.de

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