FAIR-CT95-0873 Developing somatic embryogenesis as a tool for spruce tree improvement

Contacts




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Biotechnology : FAIR Area 4.5 - Multifunctional Management of Forests : Plant Genetics : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Proposal No:	FAIR-CT95-0873
	Date Prepared:	January 1998
	Source:	Proposal Abstract

Abstract:
Great gains in productivity and quality have been made by tree breeding and improvement programmes over the last 40 years. However, the amount of such genetically improved material growing in commercial forests is quite small. One reason for this is the long time required to propagate enough of this material to put it into commercial production.

The objective is to develop the process of somatic embryogenesis into a practical method to multiply genetically improved spruce for use in commercial forestry in Europe. This method has a better potential for cheap mass propagation that the methods currently available (seeds, macropropagation, micropropagation).

The project concerns the production of "artificial seed" from tissues not originally meant to result in embryos ("somatic embryogenesis") of Norway and Sitka spruce as a means to propagate superior plant reproductive material.

It includes 3 integrated steps to:

• solve technically important points such as fluidity, composition and pH of nutrient media, ambient conditions
• look for cost effective simplification of propagation methods
• establish tests in which the conformity of plantings obtained with this technology will be compared with seedlings or cuttings of the same genotypes.

For this last step, the genetic stability will be assessed.

Contacts

Coordinator

• David G THOMPSON / Coillte Teoranta Irish Forestry Board Research Laboratories / IRELAND