Seoul National University Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Lab서울대학교 산림유전육종학실

This course introduces the principles of general and population genetics, the factors that cause genetic variations, the patterns of genetic changes and inheritance of both qualitative and quantitative traits of tree species. Students will also learn the principles and techniques of breeding methods and their application to tree species including selective breeding, hybridization breeding and introduction of exotics. Particularly, the methods of plus tree selection, provenance test, progeny test, seed orchard establishment and production of genetically improved seeds and seedlings will be taught in detail. Students also will learn the techniques of vegetative propagation of tree species including tissue and cell culturing and gene transformation.

The aim of this subject is to understand and practice forest biotechnology based on the genetics, function and metabolite of woody plants. It is focused on the forest trees and plants, while general biotechnology targets and studies on animal, microorganism, crop and horticulture. Compared to agricultural crops, forest trees have huge body, long life-cycle, long chromosome. Also most of woody plants show allogamouse mating system (outcrossing). Therefore biotechnology techniques will be introduced and practiced for tree breeding and for mass propagation of genetically improved materials. Furthermore exploration and application of useful genes is taught to integrate into tree breeding program for increase of forest productivity.

This course focuses on forest plants that are naturally growing in forests and cultivated at local forestry farms. The students will learn about the traditional knowledge and the genetical and physiological characteristics of valuable woody plants. Additionally, they are going to study on how to identify the edible and medicinal forest plants and how to extract and utilize the functional materials. This course is practically connected to dendrology, forest genetics, forest ecology, and forest protection. Through this course, the students will get a deeper understanding of forest edible and medicinal plants and inspiration for future potential utilization as valuable resources.

In this course, we learn the materials, functions, and effects of various forest environmental factors (sunlight, landscape, temperature, phytoncide, food, sound, humidity, negative ions, etc.) that cause responses to human health and immunity, and learn healing forests and forest healing. We discuss the operation of the healing instructor system. In addition, learn about forest education (forest commentary, forest education for children, forest trail hiking support, etc.). In the second half, based on the understanding forest healing welface spaces, we learn and discuss ways to promote public welfare, improve public benefits of forests, and expand social service jobs through sustainable forest management techniques such as forest management experience forests.