FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The course will give participants hands-on experience and expand their technical knowledge in tropical vegetable breeding. It allows participants to expand their professional network to fellow breeders and recognized experts in the field. Course subjects include:
- Plant genetic resources conservation and utilization
- Germplasm screening for pests and disease resistance
- Set up of seed production pipeline
- Breeding scheme of tomato, chili, and cucurbit crop
- Hybrid cultivar development using male sterility systems
- Statistical methods for plant breeding
- Marker-assisted selection
The course is taught by experts from the World Vegetable Center and Kasetsart University (Thailand). The instruction will be in English. The training methods will be a blend of classroom lectures, hands-on exercises, and excursions to leading vegetable seed producers in Thailand.
Participants will go through an evaluation of their current knowledge by taking both a pre-test and a post-test. This will help us gauge their starting point and measure the progress they make in various areas, including Germplasm collection and conservation, establishment of a company gene bank or seed storage system, setting up a seed production pipeline, understanding the breeding schemes for tomatoes, chili, and cucurbit crops, developing hybrid cultivars using male sterility systems, applying statistical methods in plant breeding, and utilizing marker-assisted selection techniques.
Most course lectures are conducted at:
World Vegetable Center
East and Southeast Asia Research and Training Station
Kasetsart University
Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom
Thailand
Field trips and hands-on practical sessions are held throughout Thailand.
Early- and mid-career professionals working in agricultural research, development, and extension with an interest in enhancing their knowledge of safe vegetable production. The course is particularly suitable for staff development-oriented projects promoting safe and sustainable vegetable production. The course is focused on Asia, but is open to any interested participants from around the world.
The course fee is US $2,500 and covers training, accommodation, meals, local transportation, excursions, and local health insurance. The fees do not include airfare and visa costs. The course organizers are unable to provide scholarships or offer discounts.
Participants will be accommodated in the International Dormitory at Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus.
Rooms include air conditioning, refrigerator, TV, and Internet.
