UE 12 : Conventional and organic production and seed technology

Reasoning for the production of seeds and clonal plants:
—  Overview on conservative selection
—  Regulations and quality approach: regulatory framework for the production, testing and distribution of seeds, transplants and clonal material, quality approach and certification of propagation material for organic farming
— Management of plant propagation modes/ways: influence of modes and barriers of reproduction, influence of varietal types and modes of propagation.

Optimization of seeds and clonal material quality:
— Dry seed production: current issues in production, visits to seed producers, weed management and low-input crops (seed banks in the soil, use of agro-ecological approaches in seed-bearing plant cultivation, multiplication contracts),
—  Production of propagation material: transplants from seeds, ornamental and fruit nurseries, micro mother plants, bulbs and tubers, in vitro plants,
— Post-harvest seed operations and technologies (seed sorting, seed treatments, biology of priming biology…).

Knowledge in genetics, plant protection (pests and control methods), reproductive biology
Basic knowledge of agronomy and breeding methods

Be able to:
— Present the actors of the seed sector and their roles
— Define the different types of varieties and their characteristics
— Characterize the different methods of control in production
— Describe a production itinerary and set up an experiment

— To have an integrative vision of seed and plant production
— Mastering the seed, transplants and clonal material production operations
— To be able to formulate a diagnosis and propose innovative propagation strategies to meet the new challenges of the sector, and implement a quality approach in accordance with the regulatory framework
— To be able to understand and optimize post-harvest operations, estimate post-harvest quality and to propose innovations in seed and plant treatments.