GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF FRUIT CROPS AND SUSTAINABLE BIOTECHNOLOGIES

Academic Year 2021/2022 - 1° Year
Teaching Staff: Gaetano Distefano
Credit Value: 6
Course Language: Italian
Taught classes: 28 hours
Exercise: 28 hours
Term / Semester:

Learning Objectives

Provide knowledge and specialized application of standard genetic improvement techniques and modern biotechnology in fruitculture with specific reference to Mediterranean fruit tree crop.


Course Structure

Oral lecture (28 hours) and lab training (28 hours).

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.


Detailed Course Content

Provide knowledgment and specialized application of some modern biotechnology in fruitculture with specific reference to plant propagation, certification and genetic improvement.

  1. Reproductive biology of Fruit tree crop
  2. Specific aspects of Fruit tree crop biology
  3. From the classic to modern genetic improvement in fruitcrop
  4. In vitro culture and genetic improvement of fruit tree species
  5. Fruitcrop germplasm conservation
  6. Somaclonal variation and in vitro selection
  7. Protoplasts and somatic hybridization
  8. Genetic engineering: uses and perspectives for transgenesis, cisgenesis and genome editing
  9. Molecular markers for fingerprinting, phylogenetic studies, MAS
  10. Bioinformatics for gene identification
  11. Main genetic improvement goals for the most important fruit crop

Textbook Information

1) Sansavini et al 'Arboricoltura generale' Pàtron Editore

2) Barcaccia G., Falcinelli M. “Genetica e genomica” vol II e III. Liguori editore

3) Galbiati et al., 'Biotecnologie sostenibili' Edagricole Editore