Forest Genetics

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Forest Genetics

Anders Fries Project Page

Genetic influence on wood traits in Scots pine

During the last 15 years, I have mostly been doing research within the genetics of wood and fibre traits in Scots pine, and how to measure and evaluate those traits. The research has included:

techniques for taking wood samples, e.g. increment cores and stem disks
evaluating progeny tests of Scots pine for wood and fibre traits, and their relation with growth traits
use of different techniques for analyzing wood and fibre traits, e.g. the water displacement method, X-ray and Kajaani Fiber-analysator, and applications on progeny testing

Studies in seed orchards

During 2007 and 2008 I am working in a group which studies seed orchards from different aspects. We study: i) physical development of seed orchards (growth, flowering etc.), ii) using molecular techniques, we study the pollination pattern in seed orchards and the possibilities to identify parents of open pollinated seed orchard seeds (so called breeding without breeding), iii) selective seed harvest by individual clones

Contact Info

PI: Anders Fries

Dag Lindgren Project Page

Centre for prediction and optimisation of genetic change

Genetic changes in forests occur intentionally, through tree breeding, and unintentionally, through domestication and various other mechanisms (some natural, and others resulting from human actions). Forest tree improvement is done to improve health, growth, quality and economy of planted forests while avoiding severe restrictions of gene diversity.
External Website
[http://www-genfys.slu.se/staff/dagl/Index.htm]

Contact Info

PI: Dag Lindgren

Jan-Erik Nilsson Project page

Adaptation of forest trees in northern latitudes

General on adaptation

Forest tree populations have reached certain degrees of adaptation, over many generations, to local climate and photoperiod conditions. In northern latitudes the adaptation is strongly related to survival and reproduction under conditions with long, cold winters and short summers. In these areas, early cold acclimation rhythms are usually the most critical factor for survival.

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PI: Jan-Erik Nilsson

Partrik Waldmann Project page

Quantitative and population genetics

Quantitative genetics is the branch of genetics that deals with the inheritance of polygenic traits. It has a long history that dates back to the seminal work of Ronald Fischer (1918) and Sewall Wright (1921). The theory behind quantitative genetics is based on universal Mendelian inheritance principles and therefore applies to domesticated species as well as to natural populations.

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PI: Patrik Waldmann

Per Christer Odén Project Page

Silviculture

My major research interests are in the area of global silviculture and forest renewal. The global climate change, deforestation and loss of biodiversity are emerging challenges today. New silvicultural research initiatives are expected to meet these challenges and societal needs related to forest management around the world.

Contact Info

Â PI: Per-Christer OdÃ¨n

Rosario Garcia-Gil Project page

Quantitative and population genetics in conifers

The aim is to identify the gene variants (alleles) responsible for traits connected to productivity (growth, wood properties) and biotic (Heterobasidion) and abiotic (frost) resistance in Scots pine. Conventional tree breeding has been proven to be very efficient for traits with high heritability, but it is insufficient if the heritability is low or if the evaluation of the trait is difficult or very time consuming. It is also a very long process, for Scots pine in Sweden it is about 25 years per breeding cycle, and therefore effective tools for early selection are crucial. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate gene mapping in the same genetic map is a genetic tool to unravel the genetic architecture of the traits. Co-location of a candidate gene and a QTL is considered as an evidence of that gene being involved in the trait (causal gene), nevertheless, further verification is needed. Variation at the causal gene can be scored as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). If the nucleotide change is the one that contributes to quantitative variation is referred as quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN). Direct selection can be done on the causal genes. This is a straightforward approach that avoids losing the desired QTL during recurrent selection and its high resolution will allow breeders to break up undesired trait correlations.

Contact Info

PI: Rosario Garcia-Gil

Recent Publications

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March 2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010
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