GENETICS AND GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PLANTS 2
Module GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PLANTS
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher:
ANGELO SICILIA
Expected Learning Outcomes
Learning Objectives
- Knowledge and understanding: evaluation of natural and induced genetic variability for its use in plant breeding, understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying plant evolution.
- Applying knowledge and understanding: planning a plant breeding program and selecting the most appropriate procedures for developing new varieties, integrating traditional breeding methods with biotechnological tools, applying experimental designs to identify and select genotypes in order to obtain improved varieties, organizing and managing the processes of genetic traceability of plant varieties throughout the entire production chain.
Course Structure
The course (6 ECTS) includes lectures and in‑class exercises. Lectures will be delivered using PowerPoint presentations and video materials, including resources in English. The in‑class exercises will consist of solving problems and exercises related to the topics covered in the course, also through the application of appropriate statistical tests and using the SOCRATIVE platform. If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may
be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, students who require support may request a personal meeting in order to plan any compensatory and/or exemptive measures, based on the learning objectives and their specific needs.
Required Prerequisites
Students enrolling in this course are expected to have a solid grounding in the fundamental concepts of mathematics and chemistry provided by the introductory courses offered during the first semester. In addition, they should possess preliminary knowledge in biology—specifically the structure and function of the plant cell and the main processes of cell division—as well as basic notions of genetics and biochemistry.
Attendance of Lessons
Mandatory
Detailed Course Content
Inheritance and heritability of quantitative traits - genetic improvement and use of genetic variability - reproductive systems of cultivated plants - reproductive barriers: self-incompatibility, male sterility - relationship between reproductive system and method of genetic improvement - genetic structure of populations - traditional methods of genetic improvement in species reproducing by vegetative propagation, by autogamy and by allogamy - modern methods of plant genetic improvement - genetic engineering - selection methods.
Textbook Information
1. Miglioramento genetico delle piante agrarie, Lorenzetti F., Albertini E., Frusciante L., Rosellini D., Russi L., Tuberosa L., Veronesi F. Edagricole 2. Genetica e genomica, Barcaccia G. e Falcinelli M., Liguori editore. Volume II.
3. Genetica e genomica, Barcaccia G. e Falcinelli M., Liguori editore. Volume III.
4. Biotecnologie sostenibili, Galbiati M., Gentile A., La Malfa S., Tonelli C., Edagricole
5. Genetica Agraria-Genetica e biotecnologie applicate all’agricoltura, F. Lorenzetti, S. Ceccarelli, D. Rossellini, F. Veronesi, Patron ed.
6. Breeding Field Crops, Sleper DA, Poehlman JM, Ames, Iowa, USA: Blackwell Publ., 2006.
7. Genetica, Binelli G e Ghisotti D., Edises, 2018
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The examination is written and consists of six questions: two open‑ended questions, two multiple‑choice questions, and two problems or exercises related to the topics covered in the course, which may also be solved through the application of statistical tests. Each question is assigned a predetermined score, for a total of 31 points.
VERSIONE IN ITALIANO
