Developments in forest genomics at Oxford – from breeding in spruce to conservation of endangered rosewoods

natacha.fontaine@sbf.ulaval.ca

Frais d'inscription: Site web: Conférentier: Contact: Sitka spruce is the UK’s third largest crop by area and is grown in carefully-managed FSC-certified plantations. It has significant economic benefits, accounting for half of the UK’s £2bn a year forest industry. We have launched a new project called ‘Sitka Spruced’, which aims to create novel capacity to increase the rates of genetic gain in the UK’s breeding programme (https://sitkaspruced.web.ox.ac.uk/home). The UK produces only 40% of the wood it consumes. Increasing pressure on land use means that simply planting more trees is only part of the solution. To meet more of the UK’s demand for timber, the key challenge is to find ways to make existing and future plantations more efficient and productive. The overall goal of Sitka Spruced is to develop genomic prediction (GP) methods and transfer these lessons to the forestry industry as a whole. GP could shorten the development of new Sitka germplasm down to a third of the time it takes presently for important traits such as productivity, resistance to insect pests, and tolerance of climate change. The presentation will also introduce work on conservation genetics in rosewoods (Dalbergia spp.) in the Mekong sub-region. One of the aims is to develop genomic resources to facilitate studies on population structure and adaptive potential in the pan-tropical genus of Dalbergia. The project also aims to integrate biodiversity conservation, community forestry and poverty alleviation in four developing countries of the region.
Natacha Fontaine
John MacKay, Wood Professor of Forest Science, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford.
www.cef-cfr.ca
Entrée libre.