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PLANT SC 3200WT - Plant Breeding III

Waite Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

Generic manipulation in plants has underpinned improvements in productivity and has enhanced sustainability of farming systems worldwide. As well, plant generic diversity is fundamental to understand adaptation in natural systems. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of plant breeding and plant adaptation that are applicable to agricultural and natural systems. The topics covered include: genetic diversity in relation to adaptation, productivity, pest and disease resistance and end-use quality; strategies for setting breeding objectives and maximising selection and improvement of key traits; breeding methodologies for self or cross pollinated plants.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PLANT SC 3200WT
    Course Plant Breeding III
    Coordinating Unit School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Waite Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge ANIML SC 2501WT & PLANT SC 2510WT or equivalent
    Assessment Terminology test, student blogs, oral presentation, major written report, fina exam
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Jason Able

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    The anticipated knowledge, skills and/or attitude to be
    developed by the student are:

    1. Describe sources and types of genetic variation and
    explain their importance for plant improvement.

    2. Describe the progression of stages within a modern breeding
    programme from the setting of breeding objectives, through the development and
    implementation of breeding strategies to the commercialisation of plant
    varieties and the protection of intellectual property.

    3. Describe methods that are used in plant breeding.

    4. Locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information
    relevant to plant breeding.

    5. Judge which plant breeding methods are appropriate for
    specific objectives and situations.

    6. Formulate and justify a plan for the application of plant
    breeding methods to achieve a specific objective.

    7. Carry out specific plant breeding activities, such as
    selection of parental germplasm, observation and recording of phenotypic
    variation and selection among progeny.

    最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1, 2, 3
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 4, 5
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 6
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Students will be required to use MyUni
    Recommended Resources
    While not deemed essential, a list of recommended resources
    include:

    Writing guide: The following booklet provides a useful guide
    on written communication in science:

    Cargill, M. & Bellotti, M. 2004, Written Communication
    in the Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide,
    Adelaide.



    Recommended textbook:

    Acquaah, G. 2007, Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding,
    Blackwell Publishing, Malden.

    A dictionary of terms:

    Schlegel, R.H.J. 2003, Encyclopedic Dictionary of Plant
    Breeding and Related Subjects, Haworth Press, New York.

    Other books: These books are also available in the Waite Library:

    Halloran, G.M., Knight, R., McWhirter, K.S. & Sparrow,
    D.H.B. 1979, A Course Manual in Plant Breeding. 最新糖心Vlogn Vice-Chancellors’
    Committee.

    Sleper, D.A. & Poehlman, J.M. 2006, Breeding Field
    Crops, Blackwell, Iowa.

    Chrispeels, M.J. & Sadava, D.E. 2003, ‘Plants, genes and
    crop biotechnology’. Jones and Bartlett, Boston.

    For some of the practicals (field trips), 最新糖心Vlog cars
    will be used to transport the students to and from the activity

    Online Learning
    MyUni:    Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be delivered by the following means:

    Lectures:   2 hours per week
    Practicals:  4 hours per week

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week Type of learning activity Topic
    Week 1 Lecture Introduction to plant breeding
    Genetic diversity and genetic resources
    Practical Crossing and selection decisions
    Week 2 Lecture Quantitative and qualitative variation in plants
    Practical Roseworthy summer nursery
    Week 3 Lecture Crossing within and between plant species
    Practical Eucalyptus breeding at the Waite
    Week 4 Lecture Novel variation for plant breeding
    Practical Terminology test
    Week 5 Lecture Breeding methods for self-pollinating species
    Practical Designing and setting up trials
    Week 6 Lecture Breeding methods for clonally propagated plants
    Practical Almond breeding at the Waite
    Week 7 Lecture Breeding methods for cross-pollinating species I
    Practical Presentations on examples in plant breeding
    Week 8 Lecture Breeding methods for cross-pollinating species II
    Breeding hybrid crops
    Practical Lucerne germplasm development and breeding
    Week 9 Lecture Breeding for resistance against diseases and pests
    Practical Disease screening
    Week 10 Lecture Performance evaluation
    Practical Information management in plant breeding
    Week 11 Lecture Cultivar release and commercialisation
    Future of plant breeding – molecular markers as a case study
    Practical 最新糖心Vlogn Grain Technologies Visit
    Week 12 Lecture Exam tutorial
    Practical Review session
  • Assessment

    The 最新糖心Vlog's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment taskType of assessmentPercentage of total assessment for grading purposesHurdle (Yes/No)Outcomes being assessed
    Terminology test Summative 10% No 1, 2, 3, 5
    Student blogs Summative 15% No 1, 2, 3, 6
    Oral presentation Summative 15% No 1, 2, 3, 6
    Major written report Summative 25% No 5, 6, 7
    Final exam Summative 35% Yes 1, 2, 3, 6
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance at all practical classes and field trips is compulsory unless you have a medical certificate. It is also expected that all lectures will be attended and that students will read and comment on the short reports that other students post on field trips.

    Assessment Detail
    Terminology test (10%)
    At the beginning of the course, students will be provided with a list of terms and their definitions. The test (conducted early in the semester, around week 3) will assess understanding of the meaning of these terms. Feedback from the test is made available to the students one week after the test.

    Student blogs (15%)
    Over the course of the semester, students will contribute to a blog on MyUni by reporting in an accurate and interesting way about highlights from practicals/field trips in the course and/or other topics related to plant breeding. Each student will contribute three unique entries (no more than 300 words each) spread across the semester (approximately weeks 5, 8 and 11). Students are also expected to read each others’ posts and to post constructive comments. By the end of the semester, the blog should provide an informative and interesting record of highlights from this course.

    Oral presentation on an example in plant breeding (15%)
    Information and materials (including images) about a series of examples in plant breeding are provided as background information on MyUni. At the beginning of the course, each example is assigned to one student. Each student is then required to prepare and give an oral presentation in week 6 or 7 that: Presents and explains the example to the class, relating it to one or more important concepts in plant breeding; Provides relevant information and critical analysis beyond that included in the materials that were provided with the example.

    Major written report (25%)
    Each student is to write a report outlining a plan for addressing a specific breeding objective for a specific crop. This assessment item is due towards the end of semester (approximately week 12). The report (1500-2500 words) will include the following sections: Background on the plant species; Background on the breeding objective; A breeding plan outlining how the objective can be addressed; Discussion, which will include what factors a breeder would need to consider in deciding whether and how to address this breeding objective; Conclusion; References cited. Students will receive written feedback on this report within two weeks.

    Final exam (35%)
    A final exam will be given at the end of the semester to ensure summative knowledge of course material. Students must achieve at least 40% in the final exam to pass the course.

    Replacement/Additional Assessment Exams
    Academic grounds: offered to students who achieve a final course mark between 45-49%. Note that Replacement/Additional Exams on academic grounds will be held within the 最新糖心Vlog’s official Replacement/Additional Assessment Exam period (i.e. July for semester 1 courses and December for semester 2 courses).
    Medical and/or compassionate grounds: may also be granted to provide an opportunity for students whose academic performance was impaired by circumstances beyond their control in the primary examinations (i.e. medical and/or compassionate grounds). More details on Replacement/Additional Exams can be found at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/supps.html.
    Submission
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. 
    A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through .

  • Student Feedback

    The 最新糖心Vlog places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the 最新糖心Vlog to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

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