INFORMATION ON THE MASTER
APPLICATION
FORM
International Master in
PLANT BREEDING (17th edition)
Zaragoza (Spain), 29 September
2008 – 5 June 2009
October 2009 – July 2010
Objectives
Organization
Diplomas
Academic organization
Admission
Registration
Scholarships
Insurance
Structure and content of the first
part of the Master
Lecturers participating in the
2006-2007 edition of the first part of the Master
Plant breeding plays a key
role in increasing crop yield and quality, by developing varieties that are
adapted to the different environmental conditions, make better use of inputs
and are integrated into environmentally and economically viable agricultural
systems. This discipline has evolved to a complex science, integrating
molecular and cell biology and informatics tools into classical selection
methods. It is therefore necessary to train young professionals and scientists
to meet the challenges of future agriculture.
The Master enables the participants to:
-
Understand the basics and
principles of modern plant breeding, including genomics.
-
Comprehend the different
selection and breeding processes and assess the advantages and drawbacks of
each according to the characteristics of crop species, the breeding objectives
and the environmental conditions.
-
Learn how to integrate in a
breeding programme the conventional techniques and most up-to-date methods that
contribute towards greater efficacy in the selection processes and in the
development of new varieties.
-
Design a breeding programme for a
given crop species for the conditions of a country or region according to
specific objectives.
-
Be introduced into research, critically applying
acquired knowledge, capacities and abilities to the treatment of problems
related to plant breeding.
The Master is organized by the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of
Zaragoza (IAMZ) of the International
Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and the University of Lleida (UdL).
It is included in the official postgraduate programme “Agro-food Science and
Technology” of the University of Lleida, being an official Master of the
Spanish university system within the framework of the new European Space for
Higher Education.
The Master
is developed over two
academic years on a full time basis [120 credits, following the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)] and is
structured in two parts.
The first part of the Master (60
ECTS) is professionally oriented and comprises lectures, practicals, tutored
personal work and technical visits. This
part will take place at the IAMZ from 29 September 2008 to 5 June 2009, and
will be given by well qualified lecturers from international institutions and
universities, research centres and private companies in different countries.
The second
part of the Master (60 ECTS) constitutes a period of initiation to research in
which participants work on the Master of Science Thesis. This part will begin
from October 2009 onwards and will last for approximately 10 months in which research
work will be conducted followed by the elaboration of the thesis, that must be
publicly defended and approved by an international examining board.
Participants
may, if they wish, complete only the first part of the Master, that constitutes
a postgraduate specialization course.
CIHEAM will
award the Postgraduate Specialization
Diploma to those participants who have passed the necessary examinations
and have obtained 60 ECTS taking the full first part of the Master. The
University of Lleida could consider credits obtained in this first part to
continue studies in the framework of its official postgraduate programme.
Participants
who passed the first part of the Master with a grade of 70 or more out of a
maximum of 100 may opt, once an experimental protocol has been presented and
accepted, to the Master Degree. The official Spanish degree will be
awarded by the University of Lleida and CIHEAM will award its Master of Science Degree.
The first part of the Master is held in three terms, with morning
and afternoon sessions. This part is made up of complementary but independent
units so that participants may attend, if they wish, only one or several units. Point 9 shows credits awarded to each.
This part
requires personal work and interaction among participants and with lecturers,
its international characteristics favouring the exchange of experiences and
points of view. Formal lectures are complemented
by tutorials, working groups, practicals, round
table discussions and visits to centres of experimentation and seed companies.
Throughout
this first part, participants carry out an individual project of a breeding
programme, on a plant species of their choice applied to the specific
conditions of their country of origin. This project will enable participants
to: (i) apply the principles and methodology presented throughout the different
units; (ii) gain experience in finding technical and scientific information, as
well as learn how to make selective treatment of such information; (iii) make a
critical assessment of different breeding alternatives; (iv) learn how to
define and integrate the different components of a breeding programme; and (v)
acquire experience in the preparation of oral communications and their
presentation in public.
During the second part of the Master, participants prepare the Thesis
required for being awarded the Master Degree in a second academic year, once
the candidate has been admitted, having reached the minimum qualification
required in the first part of the Master, and upon approval of a work protocol
presented under the supervision of the thesis tutor. The experimental work for
the elaboration of the thesis will be carried out in institutions collaborating
with CIHEAM and the University of Lleida or in the University of Lleida,
particularly at the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Agrària, for a period of approximately 10 months, under the direction of a
tutor who should be a doctor of renowned experience.
The first part
of the Master is designed for a maximum of 30 participants complying with the
following conditions:
a) Higher
University degree, preferably in agronomy, forest sciences, biology,
biotechnology, plant sciences or any related field.
b) Sound
knowledge of plant biology, genetics and
statistics.
c) Knowledge of Spanish which will be the working
language. Given the diverse nationalities of the teaching staff, simultaneous
interpretation into Spanish will be provided. However, knowledge of English and
French will be considered in the selection of candidates, since bibliographical
material may be distributed in any of the three languages. The IAMZ organizes
an intensive Spanish language course starting in July for those who require it.
Application
forms may be obtained from:
Instituto Agronómico Mediterráneo de Zaragoza
Apartado 202, 50080 Zaragoza
(Spain)
Tel.: +34 976 716000 - Fax: +34 976
716001
e-mail: iamz@iamz.ciheam.org
Web: www.iamz.ciheam.org
Candidates
should send the completed application form to the above address accompanied by:
- Curriculum vitae, stating university
degree, experience and professional activities
- Transcript of
records
- Certificates of
language knowledge
- Reasons for
applying to the Master
The deadline for the submission of applications from non-Spanish
candidates is 2 May 2008. The
deadline for the submission of applications from Spanish candidates may be
extended to 2 June 2008.
Applications
from those candidates who cannot present their complete records when applying,
or those requiring authorization, may be accepted provisionally.
Registration
fees for each academic year of the Master amount to 1800* euro. This sum covers
tuition fees only. For candidates wishing to partially attend the first part of
the Master, the fees will be calculated on a pro rata basis.
____________________________________
*This price is
orientative and may vary when official prices for credits of Master
postgraduate programmes are determined at the UdL.
Candidates
from CIHEAM member countries (Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy,
Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey) may apply for
scholarships covering registration fees, and for scholarships covering the cost
of travel and full board accommodation in the Hall of Residence on the Aula Dei
Campus.
Candidates
from other countries who require financial support should apply directly to
other national or international institutions.
It is
compulsory for participants to have medical insurance valid for Spain. Proof of
insurance cover must be given at the beginning of the Master. For participants
under 26 years of age, insurance is included in the registration fees.
Furthermore, those who so wish may participate in a collective insurance policy
taken out by the IAMZ, upon payment of the stipulated sum.
Structure and content of the first part of
the Master
1.
BASES OF PLANT BREEDING
1.1. Plant genetics and
variability (4 ECTS)
1.1.1.
Historical
perspectives of plant breeding
1.1.2.
Plant
reproduction systems
1.1.3.
Plant
genetics: from meiosis to gene structure
1.1.4.
Plant
genetic resources
1.2. Statistical methods (5
ECTS)
1.2.1.
Statistics
and experimental design
1.2.2.
Regression
analysis
1.2.3.
Genotype x
Environment interaction
1.3. Quantitative genetics and
genetic analysis (10 ECTS)
1.3.1.
Population
genetics
1.3.2.
Components
of variation
1.3.3.
Response
to selection
1.3.4.
Molecular
markers, gene mapping and QTL
2. BREEDING
METHODOLOGY
2.1. Selection strategies and
variety development (6 ECTS)
2.1.1.
Pure
line breeding
2.1.2.
Population
breeding
2.1.3.
Hybrid
breeding
2.1.4.
Clone
breeding
2.2. Specific breeding methods
(5 ECTS)
2.2.1.
In vitro techniques
2.2.2.
Mutagenesis
2.2.3.
Marker-assisted
selection
2.2.4.
Interspecific
and intergeneric crosses
2.3. Application of genomics to
plant breeding. Plant transformation (6 ECTS)
2.3.1.
Plant
genomes
2.3.2.
Gene
discovery
2.3.3.
DNA
sequence diversity
2.3.4.
Genome
databases and bioinformatics
2.3.5.
Tools
for dissecting complex traits
2.3.6.
Plant
transformation
3. APPLIED
BREEDING
3.1. Breeding for
specific objectives (8 ECTS)
3.1.1.
Abiotic
stresses
3.1.2.
Biotic
stress
3.1.3.
Compositional
traits and added value
3.2. Review of applied
programmes and seed and plant production (9 ECTS)
3.2.1.
Maize
breeding
3.2.2.
Wheat
and barley breeding
3.2.3.
Pepper
breeding
3.2.4.
Fruit
tree breeding
3.2.5.
Commercial
seed and plant production
4. DESIGN OF
A PLANT BREEDING PROGRAMME (7 ECTS)
Lecturers participating in the 2006-2007
edition of the first part of the Master
C. ALONSO, CSIC-CNB, Madrid (Spain)
A. ÁLVAREZ, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
S.B. ANDERSEN, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural Univ.,
Frederiksberg (Denmark)
P. ANDREU, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
J.L. ARAUS, Univ. Barcelona (Spain)
A. ARBELOA, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
M. ARNEDO, CITA-DGA, Zaragoza
(Spain)
P. ARÚS, Consorci CSIC-IRTA, Cabrils, Barcelona (Spain)
J.M. AUDERGON, INRA, Montfavet (France)
F. AZANZA, Syngenta, Toulouse (France)
J. BARRIUSO, Univ. Zaragoza (Spain)
R. BELKHODJA, CIHEAM-IAMZ, Zaragoza
(Spain)
J. BETRÁN, Syngenta, Toulouse (France)
A. BLUM, ARO, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan (Israel)
J. CASADESÚS, IRTA, Lleida (Spain)
A. CASAS, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
P. CASTAÑERA, CSIC-CIB, Madrid (Spain)
P. CHRISTOU, ICREA, Lleida (Spain)
L. CISTUÉ, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
J. COSTA, Monsanto España S.A.,
Madrid (Spain)
J.I. CUBERO, Univ. Córdoba (Spain)
A. CUESTA, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza
(Spain)
A. DE CAL, INIA-SGIT, Madrid
(Spain)
F. DOSBA, ENSA-INRA, Montpellier (France)
J. ELENA, CPVO, Angers (France)
E. ESCH, Univ. Hannover (Germany)
J.T. ESQUINAS, FAO, Roma (Italy)
E. FRANCIA, Univ. Modena e Reggio
Emilia (Italy)
A. GARCÉS, CITA-DGA, Zaragoza
(Spain)
F. GARCÍA ARENAL, Univ. Politécnica Madrid (Spain)
J. GARCÍA MAS, Consorci CSIC-IRTA, Cabrils, Barcelona (Spain)
R. GIL, CITA-DGA, Zaragoza (Spain)
P. GRACIA, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
M. HARRABI, INAT, Tunis (Tunisia)
P. HAYES, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis
(US)
A. HEDHLY, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
M. HERRERO, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
I. HORMAZA, CSIC-EELM, Málaga (Spain)
E. IGARTUA, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
W.J. DE KOGEL, PRI, Wageningen UR
(Netherlands)
W. LINK, Univ. Göttingen (Germany)
J.M. LÓPEZ ARANDA, IFAPA, Málaga (Spain)
M. LUIS, CITA-DGA, Zaragoza
(Spain)
J. MARÍN, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
J. MARTÍNEZ, CSIC-CID, Barcelona
(Spain)
J.L. MOLINA CANO, UdL-IRTA, Lleida (Spain)
A.J. MONFORTE, Consorci CSIC-IRTA,
Cabrils, Barcelona (Spain)
F. MORALES, CSIC-EEAD, Zaragoza (Spain)
L. MOREAU, INRA/Univ Paris XI/CNRS/INA PG,
Gif-sur-Yvette (France)
J. MORENO, CIAM, La Coruña (Spain)
V. MORENO, Univ. Politécnica
Valencia/CSIC, Valencia (Spain)
R.E. NIKS, Agricultural Univ., Wageningen (Netherlands)
S. NOGUÉS, Univ. Barcelona
(Spain)
A. OJEMBARRENA, Pioneer Hi-Breed Spain, S.L., Sevilla (Spain)
A. ORDÁS, CSIC-MBG, Pontevedra (Spain)
H. OUGHAM, IGER, Aberystwyth (United
Kingdom)
C. PALAZÓN, CITA-DGA, Zaragoza
(Spain)
M. PÉREZ DE LA VEGA, Univ. León (Spain)
B. PICKERSGILL, Univ. Reading (United Kingdom)
K. PILLEN, Max-Planck-Institute for
Plant Breeding, Köln (Germany)
F. PLIEGO, Univ. Málaga (Spain)
M. REYNOLDS, CIMMYT, México (Mexico)
I. ROMAGOSA, UdL-IRTA, Lleida (Spain)
C. ROYO, UdL-IRTA, Lleida (Spain)
J. RUSSELL, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee
(United Kingdom)
J.F. SÁNCHEZ SEVILLA, IFAPA, Málaga (Spain)
C.C. SCHÖN, Technische Universität München, Freising (Germany)
R. SOCÍAS, CITA-DGA, Zaragoza (Spain)
C. SORIA NAVARRO, IFAPA, Málaga (Spain)
M. STANCA, ISC, Fiorenzuela d’Arda
(Italy)
S.E. ULLRICH, Washington State Univ.,
Pullman (US)