Department of Plant Biotechnology

Our areas of research are using plant biotechnology techniques to promote plant breeding and conserve the genetic resources of crop plants. The main focuses are plant genetics in breeding, studying genetic resources of crop plants, and implementing new breeding techniques. Among other species, we are working with potato, barley, wheat, tomato, rye, sweet cherry, pea, etc.

Plant genetics in breeding

  • Identification of useful genes and loci in potato, barley and other crops using genetic markers.
  • Development of new genetic markers for plant breeding.
  • Marker-assisted selection for improving plant breeding.
  • Implementing genomic selection in plant breeding.

Genetic resources of crop plants

  • DNA fingerprinting of genetic resources of potato, barley and wheat using SSR markers.
  • Conservation and characterization potato in vitro microplant collection.
  • Maintenance of disease-free collection of Estonian potato varieties for seed potato.

New breeding techniques

  • Testing, validating and utilizing new genomic techniques for implementing in plant breeding.

  • The aim of implementing precision breeding is to reduce the need for plant protection of crops, speed up the breeding process and introduce desired new traits.

Speed breeding

  • Growing crops under controlled environmental conditions to accelerate flowering and seed set.

  • Speed breeding allows faster addition of new traits to improve varieties and speeds up the breeding process.

Kristiina Laanemets

Head of Department
Department of Plant Biotechnology

       [email protected]

For more information on the activities of the department visit genres.ee website (in Estonian)

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Last updated: 19.01.2024

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