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CRP305Agricultural Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Crop Genetics And Breeding

This course introduces students to the principles of crop genetics and breeding. It covers essential topics such as plant cell structure, cell division, and the laws of inheritance. Students will learn about qualitative and quantitative traits, heritability, and selection responses. The course also explores methods of sexual reproduction in crop plants, breeding procedures for self and cross-pollinated crops, and seed production and distribution.

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208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
intermediate
Math Level
Course Keywords
Crop BreedingGeneticsHeritabilitySelectionHybridization

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📊
Math Level
Moderate Math
🔬
Learning Type
Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Crop Breeding

2

Plant Cell

3

Genetics

4

Heritability

5

Selection

6

Hybridization

7

Seed Production

Total Topics7 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Plant Breeder

Apply your skills in this growing field

Agronomist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Seed Technologist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Crop Production Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

AgricultureSeed IndustryResearch InstitutionsGovernment Agencies

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1:

4h

Unit 1: What is Crop Breeding? Purpose of Breeding and Biological Variation

2 study hours
  • •Define crop breeding and its purpose
  • •Explain biological variations in plants
  • •Understand the relationship between genotype, environment, and phenotype

Unit 2: Introduction of Plant Cell, Cell Division (mitosis), Gametogenesis (meiosis) and Fertilization in Plant

2 study hours
  • •Draw and label a plant cell
  • •Explain mitosis and meiosis
  • •Describe gametogenesis and fertilization
Week
2

Module 1:

4h

Unit 3: Gene, Symbols and Terminology

2 study hours
  • •Understand the characteristics of genes
  • •Learn the alphabet symbols used for genes
  • •Familiarize yourself with genetic terminologies

Unit 4: Mendel's Experiment, Law of Inheritance and use of Chi-square Calculations

2 study hours
  • •Explain Mendel's experiment
  • •Understand the principles of segregation and independent assortment
  • •Solve monohybrid crosses
Week
3

Module 2:

4h

Unit 1: Qualitative Vs Quantitative Traits

2 study hours
  • •Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative traits
  • •Give practical examples of each type of trait

Unit 2: Heritability

2 study hours
  • •Explain the types of heritability
  • •Describe what heritability values depend on
  • •Calculate heritability
Week
4

Module 2:

3h

Unit 3: Selection Responses

3 study hours
  • •Explain the importance of heritable variation in selection
  • •Calculate genetic advance
  • •Identify ways to improve genetic advance
Week
5

Module 3: Methods of Sexual Reproduction in Crop Plants

4h

Unit 1: Reproduction in Crop Plants

2 study hours
  • •Differentiate between kinds of flowers
  • •Explain different modes of reproduction
  • •Describe the types of variety to produce based on reproduction mode

Unit 2: Self Incompatibility and Male Sterility

2 study hours
  • •Explain factors that encourage self-incompatibility
  • •Explain male sterility
Week
6

Module 3: Methods of Sexual Reproduction in Crop Plants

3h

Unit 3: Steps for Controlled Crosses and Sourcing for Breeding Materials

3 study hours
  • •Describe steps involved in making controlled crosses
  • •Outline steps to take in sourcing breeding materials
Week
7

Module 4: Methods of Breeding Self Pollinated Crops

3h

Unit 1: Pure-line Selection

3 study hours
  • •Explain how to improve self-pollinating crops using pure-line selection
Week
8

Module 4: Methods of Breeding Self Pollinated Crops

3h

Unit 2: Mass Selection

3 study hours
  • •Describe the process of mass selection and its usefulness
Week
9

Module 4: Methods of Breeding Self Pollinated Crops

3h

Unit 3: Hybridization

3 study hours
  • •Explain what hybridization is supposed to do
  • •Describe the breeding methods to use in self-pollinating crops from a segregating population after hybridization
Week
10

Module 5: Breeding Methodologies for Cross Pollinated Crops

3h

Unit 1: Mass Selection in Cross Pollinated Crops

3 study hours
  • •Explain that cross and self-pollinated crops respond similarly to mass selection
  • •Describe how to improve cross-pollinated crops using mass selection
Week
11

Module 5: Breeding Methodologies for Cross Pollinated Crops

3h

Unit 2: Recurrent Selection

3 study hours
  • •Describe the steps involved in using recurrent selection to improve quantitative traits
Week
12

Module 5: Breeding Methodologies for Cross Pollinated Crops

3h

Unit 3: Hybrid Varieties Development (in Maize)

3 study hours
  • •Differentiate between hybrid vigour and inbreeding
  • •Describe how to develop types of hybrid maize
Week
13

Module 5: Breeding Methodologies for Cross Pollinated Crops

4h

Unit 4: Synthetic Varieties (in Maize)

2 study hours
  • •Describe how to develop a synthetic variety
  • •Indicate the differences between hybrid and synthetic varieties

Unit 5: Seed Production and Distribution

2 study hours
  • •Understand that the seed production program is to supply good quality seeds of high yielding varieties to farmers
  • •Realize that there are four different classes of seed

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review Mendel's laws and practice solving genetics problems from Unit 4

2

Focus on understanding the formulas for heritability and genetic advance in Module 2

3

Create diagrams to illustrate the different breeding methods for self and cross-pollinated crops (Modules 4 and 5)

4

Study the flower structures and reproductive mechanisms covered in Module 3

5

Practice applying Chi-square tests to determine goodness of fit for observed data

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