Study Programmes 2015-2016
VEGE0026-1  
Physiology, plant breeding and multiplication of cultivated plants
  • Physiology
  • Plant breeding
  • Diversity of plant genetic resources
  • Multiplication of cultivated plants
Duration :
Physiology : 12h Th, 6h Pr
Plant breeding : 12h Th, 6h Pr
Diversity of plant genetic resources : 8h Th, 2h Pr, 8h FT
Multiplication of cultivated plants : 10h Th, 6h Pr, 2h FT
Number of credits :
Master in agricultural bioengineering (120 ECTS)6
Lecturer :
Physiology : Pierre Delaplace, Patrick du Jardin
Plant breeding : Hervé Vanderschuren
Diversity of plant genetic resources : Hervé Vanderschuren
Multiplication of cultivated plants : Hervé Vanderschuren
Coordinator :
Hervé Vanderschuren
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
Physiology
- Introduction : questions of plant physiology related to the aim of a sustainable agriculture - Photosynthesis and biomass production - Biomass allocation and the control of the quality of crop products - Stress and limitations to crop productivity - Crop plant nutrition : principles and efficiency - Biocommunication of plants in the context of the rhizosphere
Plant breeding
  • Importance of crop breeding and its contribution to challenges faced by agriculture in the 21st century
  • Historical perspectives on crop breeding
  • Tools available for crop breeding
  • Theoretical concepts of crop breeding
  • Breeding schemes used for breeding of species based on their multiplication and reproduction modes
  • Use of novel molecular tools in crop breeding
 
External speakers will give presentations on more specific topics such as crop breeding for potato, sugar beet, chicory, apple tree, etc.
Diversity of plant genetic resources
- Basis and organisation of plant genetic resources diversity
- The worldwide network of plant genetic resources
- The plant collections, the structure and activities of a gene bank
- In situ conservation methods
- Ex situ conservation steps
- Technical data on seed conservation
- The characterisation and evaluation of plant genetic resources
- Case studies : in situ conservation (wild and cultivated varieties), ex situ conservation (annual and perennial plants, orthodox and recalcitrant seeds).
At the end of the lecture, the student is able to develop a project in plant genetic ressource management on model plant.
Multiplication of cultivated plants
All operations leading to an increase in the number of similar plants in two ways : sexual reproduction (agronomic value of a seed and seedlings) and asexual (different forms of cuttings, grafting and micropropagation techniques)
Learning outcomes of the course :
Physiology
- to translate the objectives of sustainable agriculture into physiological properties to be developed in crop plants - to understand the factors limiting crop productivity in quantitative and qualitative ways - to understand how plants use the resources of their environment and to infer crop management practices and plant breeding objectives - define the functions of biological interactions in the rhizosphere with respect to crop productivity
Plant breeding
To develop the basis of varietal improvement in cultivated plants and to develop on the basis of breeding systems selection schemes at the intra- and interspecific levels After completing the course the student is expected to
  • understand the factors that led to the development of crop breeding
  • assess the influence of genetics and reproductive biology on plant breeding
  • become familiar with the techniques of field plant breeding
  • develop schemes of plant breeding for crops representative of the breeding system diversity
Diversity of plant genetic resources
To develop all the steps required for the conservation and exploitation of plant genetic resources diversity  : collecting missions, in situ and ex situ conservation, multiplication, caracterisation and agronomic evaluation, exchanges of material.
After completing the course the student is expected to
-explain the steps requested for the plant genetic resources management
-analyse the influence of plant biology on genetic resources management
-criticize in situ and ex situ techniques for plant genetic resources conservation
Multiplication of cultivated plants
Understand the different ways of plant propagation described in their agronomic context. Make economic and phytotechnic comparisons between the different methods. Being able to determine the specifications of the multiplication of plants for horticultural culture in a given agronomic context.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Physiology
Botany, Plant Physiology
Multiplication of cultivated plants
Botanic Plant Physiolgy
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Physiology
Lectures, seminars and collaborative exercices, personal projects
Plant breeding
Lectures : 12h Seminars : 6h
Diversity of plant genetic resources
Lectures : 8h Seminars : 2h Field-study trip and visits : 8h
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Physiology
Classroom activities, optionally online exercices
Plant breeding
face-to-face + excursions
Diversity of plant genetic resources
face-to-face + excursions
Multiplication of cultivated plants
Lectures : 14h Visit : 4h
Recommended or required readings :
Physiology
Companion portfolio via the online platform eCampus (slides of lectures, recommanded articles and web sites)
Plant breeding
slides and lecture notes
Diversity of plant genetic resources
- slides and lecture notes
Multiplication of cultivated plants
Nursery Stock Manual, Lamb Kelly & Bowbrick, Grower Books, London, 1981 La Pépinière, Krussmann, La Maison Rustique, Paris, 1981 Plant Propagation : principles and practices, Hartmann, Kester, Prentice-Hall, Boston, 2011
Assessment methods and criteria :
Physiology
Oral examination and evaluation of personal projects (written report and oral presentation, if any)
Plant breeding
Written exam
Diversity of plant genetic resources
Written exam
Multiplication of cultivated plants
Oral examination (100%)
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Physiology
Course given in coordination between Patrick du Jardin and Pierre Delaplace
Plant breeding
Slides and papers are made available on eCAMPUS
Diversity of plant genetic resources
Slides and papers are available on eCAMPUS
Contacts :
Physiology
Patrick du Jardin : patrick.dujardin@ulg.ac.be
Pierre Delaplace : pierre.delaplace@ulg.ac.be
Plant breeding
Hervé Vanderschuren Professor Plant Genetics Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech University of Liège
Tel: +32 81 62 25 71 Fax: +32 81 60 07 27 Bâtiment 48 N-1 // Room 48-01-40 Avenue Maréchal Juin 5030 Gembloux Belgium
Diversity of plant genetic resources
Hervé Vanderschuren Professor Plant Genetics Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech University of Liège
Tel: +32 81 62 25 71 Fax: +32 81 60 07 27 Bâtiment 48 N-1 // Room 48-01-40 Avenue Maréchal Juin 5030 Gembloux Belgium
Multiplication of cultivated plants
André Toussaint Tropical crop husbandry and Horticulture Tél 081 622417 atoussaint@ulg.ac.be
Items online :
Physiology
Course contents
All the pedagogical ressources used in this course are downloadable from the corresponding folder on the online teaching platform eCampus.
Multiplication of cultivated plants
Online notes
intranet GxABT