NOVA-404 Genomics-based plant breeding for climate adaptation

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Morten Lillemo

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:25

Course frequency:2026

Nominal workload:

15 hours teacher lectures

25 hours student lectures and case studies

85 hours independent work (home assignments)

Total: 125 hours

Teaching and exam period:The course will run in January 2023 as a NOVA course.

About this course

The course will provide PhD students with theoretical background and practical examples of using plant breeding methods to adapt plant material to changing climate conditions. Main focus will be on abiotic stress tolerance - and how knowledge on stress responses and tolerance mechanisms can be used to breed new crop plants with improved climate adaptation. In addition to giving examples of conventional breeding and selection methods, the course will provide insight into new method like marker-based breeding, genomic selection, genome editing, speed breeding and sensor-based phenotyping methods as tools to achieve plants with improved stress tolerance. The overall goal is to support the development of sustainable food production systems in the Nordic countries.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

- Understanding the basic concepts of abiotic stress tolerance and climate adaptation

- Understanding how plants with improved climate adaptation can contribute to a more sustainable agriculture

- Knowledge about QTL mapping, GWAS and genomic prediction of breeding values as tools in plant breeding

- Knowledge about the principles behind genetic transformation and genome editing

Skills

- Be able to identify required information and choose appropriate methods to carry out a plant breeding project to develop plants with improved climate adaptation

Competence

- Be able to evaluate feasibility of plant breeding for a given tolerance trait

- Be able to suggest critical measures to reach the goal

Learning activities
The students are requested to bring a poster on their PhD project. The students will receive literature before the start in order to prepare a Student Lecture. There will be no post-campus assignments.
The course is based on lectures, case studies, working groups and plenum discussions. The course will foster creative thinking, discussions and exchange of ideas among PhD students, teachers and plant breeders.
Prerequisites
The course is intended for PhD students with basic knowledge of plant breeding and genetics, crop science and biotechnology. Students with plant breeding related research in their PhD project will get priority.
Recommended prerequisites
The course is intended for PhD students with basic knowledge of plant breeding and genetics, crop science and biotechnology. Students with plant breeding related research in their PhD project will get priority.
Assessment method
Students must present a poster on their PhD project and prepare and give a student lecture exploring relevant methods and principles taught in the course.

Portfolio Grading: Passed / Not Passed
Mandatory activity
Pre-course assignment, student lecture and participation in the on-site course.
Notes
This course is a joint Nordic NOVA PhD course organised by Morten Lillemo, NMBU. Teachers and researchers from NMBU, BOKU, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), the University of Helsinki, and Agricultural University of Iceland will teach on the course. More details about the course and links for registration will be published on NOVA's website:
www.slu.se/en/subweb/nova-university-network/
Teaching hours
15 hours teacher lectures
25 hours student lectures, poster presentations and case studies
Preferential right
Students with plant breeding related research in their PhD project will get priority. Students on PhD level have number one priority. Master's students may inquire vacancy for PhD courses from the contact listed on the course's NOVA webpage.
Students on PhD level have number one priority. Master's students may inquire vacancy for PhD courses from the contact listed on the course's NOVA webpage.
Admission requirements
The course is intended for PhD students with basic knowledge of plant breeding and genetics, crop science and biotechnology. Students with plant breeding related research in their PhD project will get priority.
Students on PhD level have number one priority. Master's students may inquire vacancy for PhD courses from the contact listed on the course's NOVA webpage.