Online
Master's course series Plant Breeding - Markers in Quantitative Genetics & Quality
This course series consisting of two courses is for plant breeding professionals who want to improve their knowledge of using molecular markers in genetic research and plant breeding, understanding the metabolic routes leading to the synthesis of the desired compound, and how to determine these compounds in the plant material. By mastering the principles of markers in quantitative genetics and quality, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to produce superior crops that are more resilient to environmental stress, have higher yields, and are more resistant to disease.
Registration deadline: 6 April 2025
Exam date: 3 July 2025 & 18 December 2025
Please note that the dates for the academic year of 2024-2025 are yet to be confirmed, so they might still change.
Why follow this course series?
As global demand for food and other plant-based products continues to rise, the need for innovative and sustainable plant breeding techniques has never been more pressing. As a plant breeder, your role in this critical field is essential. However, with the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors affecting plant performance, it can be challenging to develop the ideal crop variety.
That's where markers in quantitative genetics and quality come in. These powerful tools provide insights into the genetic makeup of plants, allowing breeders to make informed decisions about which plants to select for breeding, and which traits to focus on. By mastering the principles of markers in quantitative genetics and quality, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to produce superior crops that are more resilient to environmental stress, have higher yields, and are more resistant to disease.
Investing in your education in this area will pay off in countless ways. You'll be able to leverage cutting-edge technology to develop plant varieties that can help feed a growing population, protect the environment, and support sustainable agricultural practices.
Is this course series for you?
This course series is designed to teach professional plant breeders about the major characteristics of various quality traits and how to use these traits to develop breeding strategies for improved resistance, tolerance, and quality. The programme will also cover the use of molecular markers in genetic research and breeding, including the use of polymorphic markers in segregating populations, the construction of linkage maps, and the analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTLs).
Additionally, participants will learn about the concepts of quantitative genetics, including inheritance, additivity, dominance, incomplete dominance, and overdominance, and how these concepts relate to plant breeding. You will also learn about heritability, selection intensity, and response to selection, as well as the use of quantitative genetics models and statistical methods to estimate variance components and heritability.
Additionally, you will learn about QTL analysis, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and genomic selection, and will apply these concepts using QTL mapping software. The programme will also cover the application of molecular markers in indirect selection for phenotypic traits in breeding programmes, such as bulked-segregant analysis and selective genotyping.
The knowledge on molecular markers will be applied to the topic of breeding for quality, which includes improving whole fruit/vegetable characteristics and plant compounds such as flavour, colour, texture, absence of antinutritional factors or allergens, and shelf life.
This comprehensive course series will provide you with the tools you need to succeed and advance in your career, especially in combination with other advanced Online Master's Courses Plant Breeding.
What you'll learn & practical information
The Online Master's course series Plant Breeding - Markers in Quantitative Genetics & Quality consists of two courses. The courses can be taken separately as well. If you are interested in this course series, you can find more information about what you'll learn, the learning methods, literature and software used, time investment and prerequisite knowledge via the links to both courses below.
Software used in this course series
R including R studio.
Self-Paced Online Course Getting Started with R
Knowledge of and some experience with R and R Studio is needed, to design experiments and perform statistical analyses. You are expected to be able to modify existing R scripts and to write short scripts to perform analyses. If the latter is not the case, you can follow the Self-Paced Online Course Getting Started with R. For more information and registration, please check this document.
Examination
Participation in the remotely proctored exam is optional. If you decide not to participate in the exam, you do not qualify for a certificate and/or Micro-credentials.
The date of examination for the Master Course Markers in Quantitative Genetics and Plant Breeding is 03-07-2025 (3 July 2025) and for the Master Course Breeding for Quality 18-12-2025 (18 December 2025) from 08:30h - 22:00h (Amsterdam Time Zone). The duration of an exam is 3 hours. The resit will be scheduled in the week of 7 July 2025 (Markers in Quantitative Genetics and Plant Breeding) & in the week of 4 May 2026 (Breeding for Quality).
Micro-Credentials and Edubadge
Upon successful completion, a digital Micro-credentials certificate (EduBadge) with 6 study credits (ECTS) is issued. The EduBadge certifies the learning outcomes of short-term learning experiences, marking the quality of a course. More information can be found here.
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More information & Registration
You can register for this course. Have any questions? Contact Wageningen Academy.