Plant Biotechnology (159810)

After completion of lectures and exercises in this module, students are prepared to work independently eg. in a commercial laboratory for micropropagation of plants or lead such a laboratory. They are ready also for teamwork in biotechnological research laboratories in breeding houses. Based on the knowledge gained about genetically modified plants, students are ready to plan properly and keep growing conventional crops in coexistence with GM crops.

• Lectures
• Laboratory practice/exercises
  Laboratory exercises are implemented through four exercises for two hours in small groups. During exercises students prepare culture media for plant tissue, prepare explants for the initiation of culture in vitro (surface sterilization), subcultivate nodal segments for micropropagation by axillary branching, and isolate the meristem for setting in culture
• Seminars
  Independent work at home, and then as the work in the classroom; students divided into two groups debate about genetically modified plants. For the quality of the debate student's preparation in groups is necessary according to previously obtained materials

Obveze nastavnika

Orderly maintenance of all forms of teaching; all teaching materials are available in the Merlin system for e-learning; communication with students (notice, the results of the exam) through Merlin system.

Obveze studenta

Attending lectures, laboratory exercises and seminars is mandatory.

1. Introduction to plant biotechnology, culture media, the impact of plant material and physical factors on plant tissue culture, ways of plants regenerating in vitro - somatic embryogenesis, organogenesis
2. Methods of cell suspensions, the production of secondary metabolites in cell suspension; Somaclonal variation
3. Techniques of micropropagation, meristem culture for the production of healthy planting material
4. Lab - Preparation, autoclaving and outpouring of culture media in plant tissue containers; sterilization of plant material prior to introduction into the culture, plating of leaf explants
5. Methods of germplasm storage in vitro and by cryopreservation; Methods of isolation and fusion of protoplast
6. Lab - subcultivation of nodal segments for micropropagation by axillary branching
7. Methods of haploid and double haploid production, embryo culture Lab - Isolation of shoot tips under the stereomicroscope and setting up in culture
8. Structure of DNA and chromosomes, DNA replication, regulation of gene expression; First test of knowledge
9. Basic techniques in molecular genetics - DNA isolation, recombinant DNA technology, PCR, electrophoresis, DNA sequencing
10. Methods of genetic modification of plants -vector-mediated and direct gene transfer Methods of genetic modification of plants; differences between transgenesis, cisgenesis and intragenesis
11. Genetic modifications of plants for resistance to pests and diseases
12. Genetic modifications of plants to abiotic stress resistance and other properties; status of the cultivation of GM plants in the world and Europe
13. Application of molecular markers in plant breeding
14. Teamwork in the classroom - studying of the strategy for the co-existence of conventional, GM and ecological crops, preparation for discussion
15. Debate on GM crops and co-existence; Second test of knowledge

1. Kereša S. (2016/2017) Lectures prepared in Power Point (e-learning - Merlin)
2. Chawla H. S. (2002) Introduction to Plant Biotechnology (second edition). Science Publishers, Inc.
3. Selected scientific papers
4. Slater A., Scott N. W., Fowler M. R. (2008) Plant Biotechnology: the genetic manipulation of plants (second edition). Oxford University Press.

1. Tamarin R. H. (1999) Principles of Genetics (sixth edition). WCB McGraw-Hill.
2. Taji A., Kumar P., Lakshmanan P. (2002) In vitro plant breeding. Food products Press.

• Plant Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Germany
• Plant Biotechnology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland