The course deals with the fundamentals of the application of biotechnologies to woody plants, emphasizing those aspects relating to nursery. The course will be focussed on in vitro clonal propagation and quality control of plant propagation material. Basics of molecular plant biology and genetic engineering will be dealt in the course.
-Sansavini S., Pancaldi M.-Biotecnologie delle colture frutticole-CLUEB
- Hand-outs
Learning Objectives
The course is intended to provide the students with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the main applications of in vitro technologies relevant to the woody plant species, such as in vitro mass propagation, production of virus free plants, cell and plant organ manipulation and plant genetic transformation.
Prerequisites
Recommended courses: organic chemistry and biochemistry, plant biology.
Teaching Methods
The course entails a cycle of lectures with the support of slides and some laboratory and field supplementary activities.
Type of Assessment
The end assessment will be held through an oral test in which the candidate deals with a scientific paper (in english) chosen by the candidate himself from a list made available by the teacher
Course program
History of the biotechnologies and their applications to plants.
Project and management of a laboratory for plant biotechnologies and micropropagation: instruments required and their use. Sterility, its meaning and how to accomplish sterility. In vitro plant tissue culture: possible application for mass propagation. World and national production of in vitro plants, the main species propagated in vitro, planning of the production cycle. Micropropagation: theoretical and technical aspects: composition of a medium for in vitro culture: organic and inorganic components. In vitro mineral nutrition, plant growth regulators and their use. Phases of micropropagation: stock plants conservation, aseptic culture initiation, axillary bud shooting, adventitious rooting: histological and biochemical aspects. In vivo plant acclimatation: physiological and anatomical modifications of in vitro propagated plants. Virus widespread in clonally propagated woody plants. Meristem anatomy and in vitro isolation. The micrografting.
Plant regeneration: adventitious budding and embryogenesis: their biological significance and use in genetic improvement. Hints of genetic engineering. In vitro DNA manipulation: plasmid vectors for cloning and for transformation. Constructs for genetic transformation of plants. Transformation methods.