Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale
This course offers a comprehensive overview of sustainable plant production, examining processes from molecular to ecosystem levels. You will study how genetic, physiological and ecological factors interact to influence crop performance, the efficiency with which resources are used, and resilience against changing environmental conditions. The course emphasises the links between plant traits, management methods, and sustainability results in various agricultural systems. Through a combination of lectures, seminars and exercises, you will learn to critically evaluate production strategies and apply systems thinking to enhance plant productivity and environmental sustainability.
Course evaluation
Additional course evaluations for BI1295
Academic year 2024/2025
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40082)
2025-03-25 - 2025-06-08
Academic year 2024/2025
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40083)
2025-03-25 - 2025-06-08
Academic year 2023/2024
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40042)
2024-03-20 - 2024-06-02
Academic year 2023/2024
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40043)
2024-03-20 - 2024-06-02
Academic year 2022/2023
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40051)
2023-03-22 - 2023-06-04
Academic year 2022/2023
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40052)
2023-03-22 - 2023-06-04
Academic year 2021/2022
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40031)
2022-03-24 - 2022-06-05
Academic year 2021/2022
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40032)
2022-03-24 - 2022-06-05
Academic year 2020/2021
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40103)
2021-03-24 - 2021-06-06
Academic year 2020/2021
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40105)
2021-03-24 - 2021-06-06
Academic year 2019/2020
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40010)
2020-03-25 - 2020-06-07
Academic year 2019/2020
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40011)
2020-03-25 - 2020-06-07
Academic year 2019/2020
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40012)
2020-03-25 - 2020-06-07
Academic year 2018/2019
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40002)
2019-03-26 - 2019-06-09
Academic year 2018/2019
Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale (BI1295-40004)
2019-03-26 - 2019-06-09
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
BI1295 Sustainable Plant Production - from Molecular to Field Scale, 15.0 Credits
Hållbar växtproduktion från molekylär- till beståndsnivåSubjects
BiologyEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | 10.0 | 0202 |
| Project | 5.0 | 0203 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits at basic level including- 60 credits biology or
- 60 credits Forest Sciences including 15 credits chemistry
- 60 credits Horticultural Science including 15 credits chemistry
- 60 credits Agricultural Science including 15 credits in chemistry
and
- English 6
Objectives
The course offers a synthesis and further deepening of the basic principles of sustainable production in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. The factors and processes that affect the sustainability and multifunctionality of production systems are integrated, by considering the different scales from the molecular to the stand level. The course also provides knowledge of the associated relevant methodologies. The course presents a review of the relevant theoretical basis and a set of specific examples relative to selected plants and production systems.
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
describe the origin of cultivated plants, the basic breeding strategies for them, and their molecular and physiological features relevant for production
discuss the effects of plant features and growing conditions on the production, yield and resource use efficiency of cultivated plants
evaluate the impacts of different management solutions on the production and yield of cultivated plants, with reference to different criteria for sustainability and multifunctionality
plan and execute the research activities necessary to answer specific research questions in the subject area, under limited guidance
present the results of these research activities in a scientifically-appropriate way
Content
The course offers a synthesis and further deepening of knowledge in plant production research, as well as the integration of different methodologies emplyed in, among others, plant physiology, plant breeding and process-based modeling. The course provides a solid foundation for research in the subject area, but also professional training. The course consists of lectures and compulsory seminars and excercises, as well as a group project. The lectures review the basics of the origin, breeding, physiology and production of cultivated plants, and link them to soil ecology and nutrient dynamics at the field level. The effects of disturbances on plant production and possible improvement strategies are also described, both qualitatively and quantitatively. These aspects are discussed at different organizational levels. In addition, the complexity and multifunctionality of production systems are explored with reference to different systems, focusing on sustainability and the inherent tradeoffs. The lectures provide also an overview of important tools and methods for research. The seminars and exercises train the ability to read scientific literature and extract key information, identify knowledge gaps, and present and compare different points of view. The group work trains the students in different research methods and offers the opportunity of practical applications of the knowledge acquired during the rest of the course. The seminars and exercises include compulsory activities.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Written and oral exam with passing grade; participation in the compulsory seminars and exercises; written report and oral presentation of the group project work.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
The course is part of the Master program in Plant biology for sustainable production and the program in Agriculture – soil and plant science.SLU is environmentally certified according to ISO 14001. A large part of our courses
cover knowledge and skills that contribute positively to the environment. To further
strengthen this, we have specific environmental goals for the education. Students are
welcome to suggest actions regarding the course’s content and implementation that lead
to improvements for the environment. For more information, see webpage www.slu.se.
Responsible department
Department of Crop Production Ecology
Further information
Litterature list
BI1295 – Sustainable Plant Production – from Molecular to Field Scale
Literature list
Notes
- The literature is listed with reference to the lecture date, teacher’s initials and session title, in order of occurrence
- Unless otherwise indicated, all the readings are compulsory. In some cases, supporting (more basic) readings and additional (more advanced) readings are also listed (and clearly indicated)
- All compulsory literature will be made available to the students enrolled through the course Canvas page. Files are named based on the first author and year and they appear in the session folder (in folders named as below, followed by ‘Main’)
- Also the Supporting and Additional readings are made available through Canvas, in folders indicated as Supporting readings and Additional readings. The only exception in Klug (any edition) which is available at SLU libraries
- ‘Meet the Author’ Literature is in bold; if a lecture is not listed, there is no specific reading associated with it.
7/4- Photosynthesis from scratch to plant production in northern latitudes, MW
- Lambers H, Chapin FS III, Pons TL (2008), Plant Physiological Ecology, Springer (part of chapter 2)
- Larcher W (2003) Physiological Plant Ecology, Springer, page 111-119
- Peltonen-Sainio P, Rajala A, Känkänen H, Hakala K (2009), Improving farming systems in Northern European conditions, in Sadras V and Calderini D (Eds), Crop physiology – Applications for genetic improvement and agronomy
- Xu D-Q and Shen Y-K (2002) Photosynthetic efficiency and crop yield, in Pessarakli M (Ed), Handbook of plant and crop physiology, Marcel Dekker
Supporting reading
- OpenStax Biology Chapter 8 Photosynthesis (http://openstaxcollege.org/l/photosynthesis)
Additional reading
- Eisenhut M and Weber APM (2019), Improving crop yield, Science
- Weih M (2003), Trade-offs in plants and the prospects for breeding using modern biotechnology, New Phytologist
8/4- The effects of climate change on plant production (including Meet the Author), MW
- Bonosi L, Ghelardini L, Weih M (2013), Towards making willows potential bio-resources in the South: Northern Salix hybrids can cope with warm and dry climate when irrigated, Biomass and Bioenergy, 51: 136-144
- Lavalle C, Micale F, et al (2009), Climate change in Europe. 3. Impact on agriculture and forestry. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences/INRA, 29(3)
- Mäkinen H, Kaseva J et al (2018), Sensitivity of European wheat to extreme weather, Field Crop Research, 222: 209-217
9/4- Modelling: The Basics, GV
- Ludwig F., Asseng S. (2010), Potential benefits of early vigor and changes in phenology in wheat to adapt to warmer and drier climates. Agricultural Systems 103, 127–136
- Smith and Smith 2007 Environmental modelling - An introduction Oxford Univ Press (Ch 1 and 2)
Additional reading
- Abrahamsen and Hansen (2000) Daisy: an open soil-crop-atmosphere system model, Environmental Modelling and Software 15, 313-330 (only pages 313-317)
10/4 (am)- Meet the Author: Weather and Crop Yield Anomalies in Sweden, HS
- **Sjulgård, H., Keller, T., Garland, G., & Colombi, T. (2023). **Relationships between weather and yield anomalies vary with crop type and latitude in Sweden. Agricultural Systems, 211, 103757.
13-14/4- Where do Cultivated Plants Come From? The Breeding ‘Dugga’, PI
- Doebley JF, Gaut BS, Smith BD (2006), The molecular genetics of crop domestication, Cell, 127(7)
- Kole C et al. (2015) Application of genomics-assisted breeding for generation of climate resilient crops: progress and prospects. Frontiers in plant science. 6, 563.
Supporting reading
- Klug WS, Cummings MR and Spencer CA Essentials of Genetics (available at the SLU libraries; Ch 3, 21, 22
20/4- Plant microbe interactions - plant defense, MD
- Pieterse et al (2014), Induced systemic resistance by beneficial microbes, Annual Review in Phytopathology 52, 347
Additional Reading
- Han G-Z (2019), Origin and evolution of the plant immune system. New Phytologist 222, 70
21/4- Plant microbe interactions – beneficial interactions, MD
- Lugtenberg B and Kamilova F (2009), Plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria. Annual Review of Microbiology 63, 541
- Finkel et al (2017), Understanding and exploiting plant beneficial microbes. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 38, 155
Additional Reading
- Bhattacharyya PN and Jha DK (2009), Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR): emergence in agriculture, World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 28, 1327 (Figures and tables)
22/4- Soil Microbial Nitrogen Cycling, SH
- Coskun D, Britto DT, Shi W, Kronzucker HJ (2017), How plant root exudates shape the nitrogen cycle, Trends in Plant Science
- Philippot L and Hallin S (2011), Towards food, feed and energy crops mitigating climate change, Trends in Plant Science
*Supporting reading *
- Robertson and Groffman (2014), Chapter 14: Nitrogen transformations, in Eldor P (Ed), Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry, Academic Press
Additional reading
- Kuypers MMM, Marchant HK, Kartal B (2018), The microbial nitrogen-cycling network, Nature Reviews Microbial Microbiology
- Philippot L, Raaijmakers JM, Lemanceau P (2013), Going back to the roots: the microbial ecology of the rhizosphere, Nature Reviews Microbiology
23/4 (am)- Meet the Author: Applied Disease Management in Coffee Agroforestry, BA
- Ayalew, B., Hylander, K., Adugna, G., Zewdie, B., Zignol, F., & Tack, A. J. (2024). Impact of climate and management on coffee berry disease and yield in coffee's native range. Basic and Applied Ecology, 76, 25-34.
23/4 (pm)- Integrated Pest Managment and sustainable management of insect pests, RG
- Godfray CJ et al (2010) Food Security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People. Science 327, 812 (DOI: 10.1126/science.1185383
Additional reading
- Khan Z et al (2014) Achieving food security for one million sub-Saharan African poor through push–pull innovation by 2020. Phil Trans Royal Soc B 369 (1639)
- Prinsloo, G., Ninkovic, V., van der Linde, T. C., van der Westhuizen A. J, Pettersson J. and Glinwood R. (2007) Test of semiochemicals and a resistant wheat variety for Russian wheat aphid management in South Africa. Journal of Applied Entomology 131: 637-644
24/4 (am), CR
(To be confirmed)
24/4 (pm)- Integrated pest and pollinator management (Including Meet the Author), OL
- **Boetzl, F. A., Douhan Sundahl, A., Friberg, H., Viketoft, M., Bergkvist, G., & Lundin, O. (2023). **Undersowing oats with clovers supports pollinators and suppresses arable weeds without reducing yields. Journal of Applied Ecology, 60(4), 614-623.
- Lundin O et al (2021) Integrated pest and pollinator management –expanding the concept. Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 19(5): 283–291, doi:10.1002/fee.2325
27/4- Plant Nutrient Use Efficiency Across Scales, MW & POL
- Lopez-Arredondo DL, Sanchez-Calderon L, Yong-Villalobos L (2017), Molecular and genetic basis of plant macronutrient use efficiency: concepts, opportunities, and challenges, Hossain MA et al (Eds), Plant macronutrient use efficiency – Molecular and genomic perspectives in crop plants, Elsevier
- Weih M, Westerbergh A, Lundquist P-O (2017), Role of nutrient-efficient plants for improving crop yields: bridging plant ecology, physiology, and molecular biology, Hossain MA et al (Eds), Plant macronutrient use efficiency – Molecular and genomic perspectives in crop plants, Elsevier
28/4- Ecological Weed Management, AM
- Monaco TJ, Weller SC, Ashton FM (2002), Weed Science – Principles and practices, Wiley (Ch 1 and 2)
4/5- Service Crops for Weed Control, AM
Additional reading
- Ajal, J., Jäck, O., Vico, G., & Weih, M. (2021). Functional trait space in cereals and legumes grown in pure and mixed cultures is influenced more by cultivar identity than crop mixing. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 50, 125612.
- Stomph, T., Dordas, C., Baranger, A., de Rijk, J., Dong, B., Evers, J., ... & van Der Werf, W. (2020). Designing intercrops for high yield, yield stability and efficient use of resources: Are there principles? Advances in Agronomy, 160(1), 1-50.
5/5- Meet the Author: Sustainable Weed Management, CML
- MacLaren et al. (2020), An ecological future for weed science to sustain crop production and the environment. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 40:24.
6/5 (Early am)- Research Insights: Allelopathy, DH
Additional reading
- Hickman, D. T., Comont, D., Rasmussen, A., & Birkett, M. A. (2023). Novel and holistic approaches are required to realize allelopathic potential for weed management. Ecology and Evolution, 13(4), e10018.
6/5 (Late am)- Research Insights: Weed Seed Predation, ED
Additional reading
- Daouti et al. (2020), Seed predation is key to preventing population growth of the weed Alopecurus myosuroides. Journal of Applied Ecology, DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14064.
7/5- Sustainable Plant Production Systems: Legumes, FS
- Watson et al. (2017), Grain Legume Production and Use in European Agricultural Systems. Advances in Agronomy, Volume 144, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2017.03.003
- Zander et al. (2016), Grain legume decline and potential recovery in European agriculture: a review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. (2016) 36:26, DOI 10.1007/s13593-016-0365-y
8/5- Crop Rotations and Break Crop Effects, FS
- Kirkegaard, J., Christen, O., Krupinsky, J., & Layzell, D. (2008). Break crop benefits in temperate wheat production. Field Crops Research, 107(3), 185-195.
- Reckling, M., Bergkvist, G., Watson, C. A., Stoddard, F. L., Zander, P. M., Walker, R. L., ... & Bachinger, J. (2016). Trade-offs between economic and environmental impacts of introducing legumes into cropping systems. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 669.
11/5 (am)- Overview of Agricultural Paradigms, CML
(To be confirmed)
\
11/5 (pm)- Sustainable Plant Production Systems: Agroecology, GC
- Wezel, A., Herren, B. G., Kerr, R. B., Barrios, E., Gonçalves, A. L. R., & Sinclair, F. (2020). Agroecological principles and elements and their implications for transitioning to sustainable food systems. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 40(6), 40.
Additional reading
- Röös, E., Carlsson, G., Ferawati, F., Hefni, M., Stephan, A., Tidåker, P., & Witthöft, C. (2020). Less meat, more legumes: prospects and challenges in the transition toward sustainable diets in Sweden. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 35(2), 192-205.
- Karlsson, J. O., Carlsson, G., Lindberg, M., Sjunnestrand, T., & Röös, E. (2018). Designing a future food vision for the Nordics through a participatory modeling approach. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 38(6), 59.
12/5- Sustainable Plant Production Systems: Intercropping, GC
- Hauggaard-Nielsen, H., Jørnsgaard, B., Kinane, J., & Jensen, E. S. (2008). Grain legume–cereal intercropping: The practical application of diversity, competition and facilitation in arable and organic cropping systems. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 23(1), 3-12.
- Rodriguez, C., Carlsson, G., Englund, J. E., Flöhr, A., Pelzer, E., Jeuffroy, M. H., ... & Jensen, E. S. (2020). Grain legume-cereal intercropping enhances the use of soil-derived and biologically fixed nitrogen in temperate agroecosystems. A meta-analysis. European Journal of Agronomy, 118, 126077.
13/5- Measuring farm sustainability through an ecological lens, CML
- Storkey, J., Maclaren, C., Bullock, J. M., Norton, L. R., Redhead, J. W., & Pywell, R. F. (2024). Quantifying farm sustainability through the lens of ecological theory. Biological Reviews, 99(5), 1700-1716.