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PLB 202: Introductory Plant Breeding

Credit Hours: 3 (2+1)
Full Marks: 75 (Theory: 50, Practical: 25)

Course Objectives

Upon completion, students will be able to:

Introduction to plant breeding, history, objectives, and relationships with other disciplines.
Plant introduction, domestication, and germplasm conservation.
Modes of pollination and reproduction; pollination control (male sterility, self-incompatibility).
Qualitative and quantitative traits; biometrical techniques in plant breeding.
Selection methods in self-pollinated, cross-pollinated, and asexually propagated crops.
Hybridization techniques, heterosis, inbreeding, mutation breeding, polyploidy breeding.
Ideotype breeding, breeding for pest resistance, participatory plant breeding.
Release of new varieties and crop improvement of major crops in Nepal.
Intellectual property rights in plant breeding.

S.N.	Topic	Subtopic	No. of Lectures
1	Introduction to Plant Breeding	Definition, history, goals, nature, objectives, activities, achievements, relationships	1
2	Plant introduction, domestication, germplasm conservation	Introduction & acclimatization, gene pool, centers of origin	2
3	Modes of pollination and reproduction	–	1
4	Pollination control	Male sterility, self-incompatibility	1
5	Qualitative & quantitative characters	–	1
6	Biometrical techniques	–	1
7	Selection in self-pollinated crops	Pureline theory, progeny test, origin of variation	2
8	Selection in cross-pollinated crops	Hardy-Weinberg law, mating systems, selection response	1
9	Hybridization techniques	Definition, objectives, types, procedures, consequences	1
10	Heterosis & inbreeding	Definition, types, effects, theories, inbreeding depression	2
11	Breeding methods	Self, cross-pollinated, asexually propagated crops	6
12	Mutation breeding	Definition, types, procedures, applications	2
13	Polyploidy breeding	Haploids, aneuploids, autotriploids, autotetraploids, alloploids	2
14	Ideotype breeding & pest resistance	Ideotype, breeding for disease/insect resistance	2
15	Release of new varieties	Evaluation, identification, release	1
16	Crop improvement	Rice, wheat, maize, legumes, potato, tomato	3
17	Participatory plant breeding & IPR	–	1
Total			30

S.N.	Topic	Subtopic	No. of Practicals
1	Floral parts	Self-pollinated crops	1
2	Floral parts	Cross-pollinated crops	1
3	Heterosis & inbreeding	Estimation	1
4	Heritability & genetic gain	Estimation	1
5	Data recording	Plant breeding	1
6	Pest resistance	Scoring data	1
7	Physical & genetic purity	Lab analysis	1
8	Hybridization	Self-pollinated crops	1
9	Hybridization	Cross-pollinated crops	1
10	Hybrid seed production	CMS & self-incompatible lines	1
11	Trait description	For new variety release	1
12	Research visit	National wheat program	1
13	Research visit	National maize program	1
14	Research visit	National grain legumes program	1
15	Field visit	Farmer plant breeding activities	1
Total			15

Chopra, V.L. (2000). Plant Breeding: Theory and Practices (2nd Ed.). Baba Barkha Nath Printing Press, New Delhi, India.
Gupta, S.K. (2003). Plant Breeding: Theory and Techniques. Agrobios, India.
Poehlman, J.M. & Sleper, D.A. (1995). Breeding Field Crops (4th Ed.). Panima Publishing, New Delhi, India.
Singh, B.D. (2005). Plant Breeding: Principles and Methods (7th Ed.). Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, India.