BioMatNet Item: QLRT-2001-00953 - POPYOMICS - Linking physiology, molecular genetics and genomics to understand and improve yields of Populus for biomass and timber production across Europe

[BioMatNet Database - FP5 Quality of Life Programme]

QLRT-2001-00953
POPYOMICS - Linking physiology, molecular genetics and genomics to understand and improve yields of Populus for biomass and timber production across Europe

Contacts
Website: www.soton.ac.uk/~popyomic

To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
Plant Genetics : Quality of Life - 5.3.2 The Forestry-Wood Chain : Wood (Lignocellulose)

Objectives

The main aim of this project is to use the latest techniques of molecular genetic mapping, genomics and the physical sequence of poplar, as available, to define genes that determine yield and disease resistance in Populus, with the aim of improving this species for growth across Europe as a bioenergy and timber crop.

The long term aim of POPYOMICS is to develop new genotypes of poplar with improved potential for fast growth, carbon sequestration below ground and optimised wood production for harvest. Poplar has been chosen, since it is not only of commercial importance, but is now also recognised as a 'model' tree for forest science.

Poplar will be the first tree for which the genome will be fully sequenced, as the result of a project funded in the USA by the Department of Energy. Partners from this project are familair with this sequencing effort and will benefit from the sequence information that is becoming available.

Activities

The project includes the following workpackages:

Collecting genetic material and developing a new European Experimental Network for poplar molecular genetics and genomics, with four poplar pedigrees grown.
Determination of the physiological characteristics associated with high yield.
Determination of disease resistance traits
Detection of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and developing a POPLAR framework genetic map
Using microarrays for the identification and mapping of candidate genes.

The following pedigrees of poplar currently used across Europe for linkage mapping and QTL will be used

POP1 P. trichocarpa x P. deltoides (family 331)
POP2 P. trichocarpa x P. deltoides
POP3 P. nigra x P. deltoides; P. trichocarpa x P. deltoides
POP4 P. alba x P.alba

In addition a new collection of native P. nigra has been brought together for a linkage disequilibrium study.

Three new field site, in southern UK, central France and northern Italy, have been developed with over 30,000 trees planted. In addition bioinformatic resources from Sweden and France are utilised.

Contacts

Co-ordinator

Gail TAYLOR / University of Southhampton School of Biological sciences / UNITED KINGDOM

Participant