Breeding for Quantitative Traits in Plants

Remote course on

Breeding for Quantitative Traits in Plants

21 January - 29 April 2025

Via Zoom

Offered by the

Plant Breeding Center at the University of Minnesota

Instructor

Dr. Rex Bernardo

Course description

Most economically important traits in crops are quantitative rather than qualitative. We will study of how quantitative genetics applies to plant breeding. The goals and expectations are for each course participant to:

1. Understand fundamental concepts of population and quantitative genetics;

2. Explore how quantitative genetics principles can help a plant breeder design and implement a breeding program; and

3. Appreciate the theory, experimental approaches, and evidence that form the basis for these concepts and breeding strategies.

Target audience and prerequisites

This semester-long course (Spring 2025) is intended for M.S. and Ph.D. students, postdocs, and industry scientists.

Required textbook

Bernardo, R. 2020. Breeding for Quantitative Traits in Plants. 3rd edition, Stemma Press, Woodbury, MN (http://stemmapress.com)

Costs

US $1800 for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty

US $2100 for industry participants

Time commitment, course credit (or lack thereof), and tests

Participants are expected to devote 5 to 6.25 hours of reading and study time per week to the course (in addition to the class time on Zoom).

This remote course does not carry graduate credit from the University of Minnesota. However, M.S. and Ph.D. students who want to explore arrangements to earn course credit at their local university should contact Dr. Bernardo.

For self-assessment of progress through the course, midterm tests and a final exam will be given.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Bernardo by email ([email protected]).

Host or Publisher Rex Bernardo