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Delegates have met in Cambridge, UK to further hone their plant breeding and genetic skills on the Quantitive Genetics in Plant Breeding course, run by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB).

The two-week course is designed to instruct delegates on the role and application of statistical and quantative genetics in practical plant breeding programmes.

'The future of plant breeding will be to combine the recent advances in the understaning of plant genetics with an increased use of the latest mathematical, quantative and statistical methods,' said course leader Dr Ian Mackay. 'With developments in computing power and advanced software plant breeders now have a far more sophisticated method of analysis to improve the changes of breeding a successful variety. But they need to be taught the practical application of these methods in plant breeding programmes.'

A wide range of practices are being covered on the course, from trial design and analysis through to the role of modern computer software in marker assisted selection and association genetics.

Delegates attending have come from the UK, Europe, US, Canada and New Zealand, according to Dr Mackay.