Lecture 1 - Introduction To Crop Biotechnology PDF

CROP BIOTECHNOLOGY SCBT33118 Course Coordinator: Mr. Jeevandran Sundarasekar Senior Lecturer Faculty of Applied Science  Synopsis Situated under one of the three main domains of biotechnology; Crop Biotechnol...

CROP BIOTECHNOLOGY SCBT33118 Course Coordinator: Mr. Jeevandran Sundarasekar Senior Lecturer Faculty of Applied Science  Synopsis Situated under one of the three main domains of biotechnology; Crop Biotechnology is an area of agricultural or plant science which encompasses the use of the most reason and state-of-the-art scientific tools and techniques such as genetic engineering, molecular markers, molecular diagnostics, and plant tissue culture technology. Crop Biotechnology will cover the various facets of science such as molecular farming, genetics, plant physiology, molecular plant pathology and biochemistry for a superior and complete comprehension of the course. Upon completing this course, students will be able to understand, master and correlate all the synergistic factors involved in contemporary agriculture and plant science.  Course Learning Outcomes  Describe the knowledge of plant science and its importance to the field of applied sciences and biotechnology (C2, PLO1).  Display the knowledge and technical competency in operating basic equipment and procedures related to the course (P2, PLO2).  Discuss the use of creative, innovative, and effective solutions to solve the problems/ challenges in plant science and agricultural biotechnology (A2, PLO6).  CA Finals Test (CLO1) – 20% Test (CLO1) – 40% Practical report (CLO2) – 10% OSPE (CLO2) – 10% Presentation (CLO3) – 20% 50% 50%  Additional References 1. Crop Biotechnology: Genetic Modification And Genome Editing (2018), Halford, N.G., World Scientific Publishing Company, https://books.google.com.my/books?id=DBZeDwAAQBAJ 2. Slater, A., Scott, N. W., & Fowler, M. R. (2008). Plant biotechnology: The genetic manipulation of plants. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 3. In Shannon, D. K., In Clay, D., & In Kitchen, N. R. (2018). Precision agriculture basics. 4. Tyler Baras (2018). DIY Hydroponic Gardens: How to Design and Build an Inexpensive System for Growing Plants in Water. Cool Springs Press." INTRODUCTION TO CROP BIOTECHNOLOGY SCBT33118 Mr. Jeevandran Sundarasekar Senior Lecturer Faculty of Applied Science  Good Old Ways Current agricultural crops – product of plant domestication; continuous human and natural selection.  Biotechnology had influenced human life since time immemorial:  Fermented products (bread, wine)  Conventional crop breeding  Green revolution  rDNA technology  Urgent Need for Alternative Method 1. Increase in world population and need for more food 2. Recognition that human health is affected by disease causing pathogenic organisms and by the nutritional quality of foods; vitamins and minerals. 3. Adverse global climate changes accompanied by detrimental biotic and abiotic hazards (stresses) to crops and ecosystems. 4. Human societies searching for novel, non-food plant products such as biomaterials, therapeutics, and biofuels.  Classical agriculture can no longer support the demand of plant commodity (food & biomaterials). CLASSICAL BREEDING + TECHNOLOGY  Example of Green Revolution – 10 fold increase in wheat production in India, feeding 3 times as many people. Shift in agriculture away from the small, family operated farms to large, industrial-scale agribusiness. Increased use of mechanization, GMOs, irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides. Greatly increase efficiency of lands, short term profitability and food supply. Decreased world hunger and increased earth carrying capacity for humans.  Knowledge in molecular genetics and omics (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics) technology drive this biotechnological revolution in agriculture.  Plant tissue culture has led to numerous biotechnological spinoffs such as rapid clonal multiplication, somatic breeding, protoplast fusion, etc. Precision agriculture, satellite farming or site specific crop management is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter and intra- field variability in crops.  Aquaponics is a food production system that couples aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, crayfish, snails or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) whereby the nutrient-rich aquaculture water is fed to hydroponically-grown plants, where nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia into nitrates.  Vertical farming refers to large scale, mostly indoor, system where crops are grown vertically in layers of racks. This way of farming also reduces water consumption by up to 70% compared to traditional farming, prevents food-borne illnesses such as E. coli, and reduces the need for pesticides or herbicides.  Agriculture 4.0 – The Future of Farming Technology Advancements in technology such as sensors, devices, machines, and information technology. Use of sophisticated technologies such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. These advanced devices and precision agriculture and robotic systems will allow farms to be more profitable, efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly. In the Right Direction