Forest Improvement

Biology

To achieve the objectives of the course unit, the teaching learning process is based on the following teaching
methodologies
1. teaching of theoretical-practical classes;
2. Execution of practical work: 1) in the field; 2) in the laboratory and 3) in the nursery, or study visits;
3. In bibliographic research and analysis of articles and reports on the contents of the course;
4. In the preparation of reports and presentations related to the aspects covered by this curricular unit;
For better consolidation of concepts and implementation of projects students are accompanied weekly in
tutorial classes.
It is required the presence of students in class. The minimum attendance is 75% of the number of classes
taught

This Course Unit has the objective of providing the student with knowledge about:
– The chromosomes and heritability units, the genes. DNA and genetic information.
– The relevance of genomics and its application in breeding; Selection assisted by molecular markers; The
molecular clock and its relation with speciation and the construction of phylogenetic trees.
– Qualitative genetics and qualitative characteristics; Mendel’s Laws and their extensions; Quantitative
genetics and quantitative characteristics, Additive and non-additive effect genes and their relevance to
selection and breeding.
– The description of a population; The Heritability and variances due to genotype, environment and
interaction; The general fitness to combination and specific fitness to combination and its relation to
propagation methods and pollination type.
– The crossing systems and the associated variability; The effect of polyploidy; The evolution factors, and
their effect on genetic variability in populations. Population genetics: allelic and genotypic frequencies.
Selection and genetic gain; Short and long term improvement and its strategies.
Through the above objectives the student acquires skills, knows and identifies:
– The karyotype, which characterizes each species at the chromosome level. The cytology of the
chromosome: the heritability units, the genes and their alleles at the individual and population level; their
relation with polymorphism and genetic diversity; and their relevance in breeding and “fingerprinting” of
selected individuals.
– DNA and genetic information: coding regions / gene DNA vs non-coding regions and their relative
proportion. The relationship between gene with correspondence to a segment of DNA, essential for a
specific function (protein/enzyme and RNA synthesis). The central dogma of molecular biology and the
genetic code. The relevance of genomics in breeding: the regulation of gene activity and its use in breeding;
the highly conservative gene order on chromosomes for various taxonomic families and its relevance andapplications; the molecular clock and its relation to the assessment of speciation dates and the construction
of phylogenetic trees.
– Qualitative genetics and qualitative traits: discrete phenotypic distribution ( 0 vs 1); control by few genes;
reduced environmental effect; Mendel’s Laws and their relationship with Dominant vs recessive effect
genes; heritability of qualitative traits and their relationship with breeding, selection and propagation
methods; the exceptions / extensions to Mendel’s laws (genes with partial or incomplete Dominance and
codominance effect; epistasis; and chromosome linkage group).
– Quantitative genetics and quantitative traits: continuous phenotypic distribution; control by several to large
numbers of genes / genes with additive effect; relevant environmental effect; traits in general associated
with growth and production / with economic value; their heritability and relation to breeding, selection and
propagation methods.
– The description of a population and its sampling: the mean, variance, standard deviation and standard
error. The causes of variability / the phenotypic variance function of the variance due to the environment
(M), genotypic variance / VG and the variance due to the interaction between G x M. The components of the
VG: variance due to genes of additive effect / AV; variance due to genes of dominant effect / VD; variance
due to non-allelic interactions or epistasis effects / VI. Heritability in broad and narrow sense and its
application to propagation methods and breeding.
– General combining ability/AGC and specific combining ability/AEC, their relation to propagation methods
and free vs controlled pollination. The establishment of progeny trials of half sibling and full sibling families.
The blocks and the reduction of the effect due to environmental variance. The evaluation of families/clones
for a specific environment. The general fitness of the combination and its relation to the reproductive value
of the family and the additive variance.
– The crossing systems (autogamy vs allogamy) and their effect on genetic variability in populations.
Evolutionary factors that affect the genetic variability of populations: mutation, migration / gene flow,
natural selection and genetic drift. Maintenance and use of variability: the in situ vs ex situ genetic variability
conservation programs. The dynamic conservation of populations in situ and its relevance to long-term
improvement.
– Population genetics: allelic and genotypic frequencies. Population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and the
balance of allelic and genotypic frequencies in a population. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and the Wahlund
principle: the frequency of homozygotes decreases when barriers between populations are broken and its
effect on reducing the risk of transmission of recessive traits.
– Short term genetic gain is a function of: 1) the selection characteristics and their heritability; 2) their
variability / variance in the population; 3) the number of individuals selected / selection intensity; 4) the
selection differential; 5) the propagation methods used; and 6) the environment. The evaluation of the
selected phenotypes: a) installation of progeny or clonal trials in complete randomized blocks (reduction of
the effect of environmental variance); b) installation in different locations to evaluate the interaction
between genotype and environment; and/or c) use of molecular markers (MAS / markers assisted selection).
The genetic correlations: 1) between characteristics (pleiotropy – when genes affect several characteristics);
2) between the juvenile and adult states (anticipation in the evaluation of genotypes); and 3) between
different environments – interaction between the genotype and the environment (for subsequent clonal or
family allocation).

The cytology of the chromosome. DNA and genetic information. Genomics and forest improvement.

Qualitative genetics, qualitative characteristics and Mendel’s Laws. Quantitative genetics.
Heritability and variances due to genotype, environment and their interaction. Combination aptitude
(general and specific).
Evolutionary factors, forces affecting genetic variability in populations. Crossover systems and variability.
Population genetics. Population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
Selection and genetic gain. The improvement and conservation of forest resources. Genetic correlations. The
established teaching methodologies seek a clear and effective transmission of the defined course contents,
in order to achieve the learning objectives. The stimulation of dialogue and the participation of students in
the practical component (field, nursery and laboratory), will allow the students to follow the process of
acquiring skills.
The teaching methodologies adopted allow
– Understand the relevance of genomics in breeding.
– Understand the selection for quantitative and/or qualitative traits (genes with additive vs. dominant
effect), their relevance in the selection of plant material and subsequent use with different propagation
methods (seminal vs. vegetative), their advantages and limitations.
– Understand the relation between Phenotype vs Genotype; the phenotypic variance as a function of the
variance due to the environment, the genotypic variance (its components, additive and non-additive) and
the respective interaction.
– Understand the relationship between pollination systems and the fitness to combine (general or specific).
Understand the relationship between general combining ability, family reproductive value and additive
variance.
– Understand the forces/factors of evolution affecting genetic variability in populations and also their
relationship to crossing systems.
– Understand the need in the short term to implement selection and directed breeding /hybridization
programs and in the long term to conserve genetic resources.

Continuous Assessment
Assignment (40%) + 2 Tests (60%) = 100%

Students will pass if they attend 75% of the classes and achieve a mark of 9.5/20 or
higher. In all components, students must achieve a mark of over 7.5.
Assignments include the Problem Diagnosis to be presented, presentation and discussion + written support and a Panel - Solution to the problem presented.

Exam
The final exam will consist of a written test covering all the theoretical and practical content
covered in the course unit (100%).

NAO