Advanced Plant Breeding and Improvement

This subject is not offered in 2014.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Case studies are used to illustrate the steps involved in taking knowledge from research laboratory or breeding trials and producing and releasing novel crop varieties. This subject will include a small research project in an area chosen by each student.

The objective of this subject is to extend the participant's ability to:

• comprehend many of the issues, concepts and difficulties involved in developing new crop varieties through the use of biotechnology to complement and enhance conventional breeding methodologies.
• to design breeding strategies for the improvement of crop plants
• have an in-depth understanding of regulatory and commercialisation pathways for genetically modified food crops from the farm gate to market
• have extended their abilities in both oral and written scientific communication
• have developed experience in the planning and execution of experiments

Three-hour end-of-semester examination (60%), written project report (4000 words, 25%), oral research presentation (15%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.