APS206   Biotechnology and Food Security   (10 credits)

Description

This course will consider agricultural productivity, crop protection, breeding and genetic engineering of plants in four blocks of lectures. These emphasise the production of both forest and agricultural crops, the biotic and abiotic factors which can affect productivity and the use of breeding and genetic manipulation to improve crop performance. Biotic factors include such topics as weeds, insect pests and pathogens and sink-source relationships in crop plants. Abiotic factors include economic constraints, the structure of canopies and light interception, effects of pesticides on the environment, genetic manipulation to provide resistance to pests and pathogens and the use of fertilisers and other chemicals.

Reading List