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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Agronomy and Horticulture

The Science and Application of Plants to Sustain and Enhance Human Life

 
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AGRONOMY 815D/
ENTOMOLOGY 815D
Cross-Pollinated Crop Breeding

DATES:  November 4 - December 9, 2010

Call Numbers:  TBA

URL:  http://my.unl.edu

Credits:  One graduate credit.  The course is also offered for noncredit professional development and CEU credit. (Interested in taking additional crop breeding classes for noncredit or CEU credit?  For more information, please contact Cathy Dickinson at cdickinson2@unl.edu, 402.472.1730.)

Registration: To register for noncredit professional development using your credit card, please call (800) 328-2851
  Click here to register for noncredit professional development, using mail payment
  Click here for academic credit

Description:  This course focuses on the standard breeding methods and theories associated with population improvement of cross-pollinated crops (e.g., corn, alfalfa, sunflowers, and forage grasses) and self-pollinated crops that are forced to cross-pollinate.  Students learn about creating populations, recurrent selection methods, with and without progeny tests, and hybrid production practices.  Topics discussed include the common breeding methods used in improving cross-pollinated crops and the theoretical basis for cross-pollinated crop breeding.

Instructor:  Dr. Thomas Hoegemeyer

Delivery:  Students have the option of attending a traditional class on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus or participating entirely via the Internet.  The resident class section, which will also be available "live" via the Internet for distance students, will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:20 p.m in 272 Plant Sciences Hall on the UNL East Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska.  A Web site for the course will be available 24-hours-a-day at http://my.unl.edu.  On it, students will find assignments, problem sets, additional readings and a discussion board.  Periodic tests will be given to measure students' understanding of the material. 

Requirements:  Internet access and e-mail

Prerequisites:  Individuals taking the course for academic credit must be enrolled in UNL's Graduate School and have completed AGRO 315.  For individuals taking the course for noncredit or CEU-credit, one prior course in genetics is recommended.

Text:
1. Plant Breeding: Principles and Practices, course notes by P. Stephen Baenziger (required for academic students)
2. Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, by George Acquaah (optional/recommended)

Purchase both items from the University Bookstore.


Tuition:  For information on tuition and fees, please click on the Registration links above.

Who It's For:  Among those who would benefit from taking this course are:

  • Graduate students, who can take this introductory mini-course as preparation for more intensive or specialized study later
  • Seed industry personnel 
  • Agronomists and crop consultants 
  • Food industry personnel
  • Extension educators
  • Producers
  • Science and vocational agriculture teachers
  • Plant hobbyists

anim0446.gif Still not sure if this course is for you? Check out this video description: Dr. Baenziger (requires Flash player)