BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION

Transcription

1 Syllabus BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION Last update HU Credits: 2 Degree/Cycle: 2nd degree (Master) Responsible Department: field and vegetable crops-international prog. Academic year: 0 Semester: 1st Semester Teaching Languages: English Campus: Rehovot Course/Module Coordinator: Prof. Arie Altman Coordinator arie.altman@mail.huji.ac.il Coordinator Office Hours: Mondays during the semester (27/10/ /1/2015). Building H (Plant Sciences), ground floor Teaching Staff: page 1 / 5

2 Prof Arie Altman Course/Module description: BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURAL CROPS: The course will deal with the basic principles and selected applications of biotechnology for agricultural crops, emphasizing the need for a different type of agriculture, in order to support the increasing needs for food (quantity and quality) facing climatic changes as well as increased abiotic and biotic stress conditions. The basic aspects of the major biotechnological tools and solutions will be evaluated. Course/Module aims: 1. To expose the students to the basic scientific evidence and technical aspects of the different disciplines of agricultural biotechnologies (mainly for plants and crops). 2. To clarify the major scientific, ecological and sociological aspects of biotechnology in agriculture and food production. 3. To discuss the general issues and interrelationships of science, agriculture and human well-being. Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: 1. To describe the major basic biotechnologies related to agricultural production. 2. To explain the major practical biotechnologies aimed at solving agriculture and food production problems. 3. To evaluate the achieved progress, the possible risks and future needs of agricultural biotechnologies. 5. To examine the ecological, sociological and ethical issues associated with genetically-modified (GM) plants and their products. Attendance requirements(%): 80% Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: Formal lectures will consist about 2/3 of the course About 1/3 of the time will be devoted to free discussions on selected topics (from the list of required and suggested reading, and others). Course/Module Content: 1. Background to general biotechnology: introductory remarks; page 2 / 5

3 Agricultural biotechnologies and breeding - global perspectives and trends; Limitations of traditional agriculture in meeting land, environmental and economic constraints. 2. Micropropagation and in vitro production of pathogen-free plants. 3. Germplasm storage, conservation of plant genetic resources. 4. Introduction to asexual (somatic) cell genetics: protoplasts, haploids and selection. 5. Introduction to plant transformation and transgenic crop plants: achievements, expectations and public perception. Global survey of transgenic crops. Ecological, ethical and legal aspects of plant biotechnology. 6. Molecular breeding for plant abiotic stress tolerance (drought, salinity etc.). 7. Molecular breeding for plant pest control (viruses, insects, herbicides). 8. Biotechnology of crop yield and quality traits: flowering, ripening, color, scent, plant architecture. 9. Genetic engineering for biomaterials: industrial products, pharmaceuticals, bioenergy. Plants as bioreactors. 10. Discussion and Concluding Remarks. Required Reading: 1. Altman A. and P.M. Hasegawa (2012). Introduction to plant biotechnology 2011: Basic aspects and agricultural implications. In: A. Altman and P.M. Hasegawa, eds Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture: Prospects for the 21st Century. Elsevier and Academic Press.Amsterdam. ISBN pp. xxix-xxxviii. 2. Moshelion, M. and A. Altman (2015). Current challenges and future perspectives of plant and agricultural biotechnology. Trends in Biotechnology 33: 1-6 (Invited Opinion Review). 3. Loberant, B. and A. Altman (2010). Micropropagation of Plants (2010). Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology: Bioprocess, Bioseparation, and Cell Technology, edited by Michael C. Flickinger, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 4. Crop Biotech Update (weekly electronic update)- selected 5. Selected chapters and/or paragraphs from the above book (1- an electronic page 3 / 5

4 version is available in the library). Additional Reading Material: 1. Altman, A.,ed. (1998). Agricultural Biotechnology. Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y., 770 pp. 2. A. Altman and P.M. Hasegawa, eds., Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture: Prospects for the 21st Century. Elsevier and Academic Press, San Diego; ISBN : This book is available in an electronic version in the library. Please consult Nurit (or the library) how to access it. 3. Slater,A., Scott, N.W., Fowler, M.R., eds. (2003). Plant Biotechnology, Oxford University Press, UK., 346 pp. 4. Tajj, A. M., W. A. Dodd and R. P. Williams (1997) Plant Tissue Culture Practice. University of New England Printery. 5. Bhojwani, S. S. and W-Y Soh, eds. (2003) Agrobiotechnology and Plant Tissue Culture. Science Publishers, Inc. (Introductory chapter by A. Altman). 6. Altman, A., M. Ziv and S. Izhar, eds. (1999). Plant Biotechnology and In Vitro Biology in the 21st Century. Proc. of the 9th.International Congress of the International Association of Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology(IAPTC&B),, Jerusalem Kluwer Academic Press. 7. Vasil, I. (2003). Plant Biotechnology 2002 and Beyond. Proc. of the 10th.International Congress of the International Association of Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology (IAPTC&B), Orlando, Florida Kluwer Academic Press. 8. Xu, Z, J. Li, Y. Xue and W. Yang, eds. (2007). Biotechnology and Sustainable Agriculture 2006 and Beyond. Proc. of the 11th.International Congress of the International Association of Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology (IAPTC&B), Beijing, China Springer Press. (2010 St. Louis, USA Melbourne, Australia). 9. Loberant, B. and A. Altman (2010). Micropropagation of Plants (2010). Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology: Bioprocess, Bioseparation, and Cell Technology, edited by Michael C. Flickinger, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (a PDF of this and another one is in the course file). Other general books are also available. In addition, other references and representative research publications of various topics will be mentioned and added here. Course/Module evaluation: End of year written/oral examination 50 % Presentation 0 % Participation in Tutorials 0 % Project work 50 % Assignments 0 % page 4 / 5

5 Powered by TCPDF ( Reports 0 % Research project 0 % Quizzes 0 % Other 0 % Additional information: A final written exam will be given after the end of the course (short answers to questions on the various topics which were discussed) - will consist 50% of the final course grade. In addition, selected topics will be offered to students, on which they'll have to write a final term papers (about 5-8 printed pages - instructions will be given at a later date). This part will consist 50% for the final course grade. page 5 / 5