PLANT BREEDING FOR DROUGHT TOLERANCE
Moisture deficits loom as one of the greatest challenges to future
crop production, both in rainfed and irrigated agriculture. Enhancing
the genetic tolerance of crops to drought stress, is considered an
essential strategy for addressing these deficits. To respond to the
need for more plant scientists trained in developing drought tolerant
cultivars, Colorado State University will offer a short course in
Plant Breeding for Drought Tolerance June 11-22, 2012.
The course will end with a two-day symposium on Plant Breeding for
Drought Tolerance, which will be given June 21-22, 2012 and is open
to the public. Confirmed speakers include Drs. John Boyer, John
Passioura, Eduardo Blumwald, Tom Juenger, Amelia Henry, Sean Cutler
and Jill Deikman.
TARGET AUDIENCE
The course is targeted to graduate students in the plant sciences, as
well as to professionals in the public and private sectors. It will
provide three transferable graduate-level credits.
CONTENT
The course will consist of classroom lectures, hands-on lab
exercises, and field research activities appropriate for a drought
breeding and genetics program. Course activities are designed around
three modules: 1) Whole Plant Physiology of Drought Stress, 2) Plant
Breeding for Drought Stress Tolerance and 3) Genomic Approaches to
Drought Stress Tolerance.
PREREQUISITES
The course will be given in English.
Participants should have a solid understanding of basic plant
physiology and genetics. Prior to the short course, students will
review online material on these topics to provide a common background
in breeding and physiology concepts.
PROGRAM COSTS
The cost of student tuition and fees is $1,800. Accommodations for
room and board are available on-campus for either $850 (double
occupancy) or $1,150 (single occupancy). This cost includes three
meals daily. Guests are also welcome to make their own arrangements
for room and board. All foreign visas and travel arrangements are at
students' initiative and expense.
FUNDING
Partial funding to develop the course was provided by a grant from
USDA-NIFA. No scholarships are available for the course.
REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION
Participants may apply online
(http://www.droughtadaptation.org<http://www.droughtadaptation.org/>)
through February 1, 2012.
