BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT97-3823 - Characterisation and validation of wood properties in birch for industrial use and future breeding

FAIR-CT97-3823
Characterisation and validation of wood properties in birch for industrial use and future breeding

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FAIR Area 1.3 - Forestry-Wood Chain : Paper/Pulp : Plant Genetics : Solid Wood Products : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT97-3823
	Total Cost	1,211,600 ECU
	EC Contribution	1,044,900 ECU
	Start Date	01/04/1998
	Duration	48 months

Characterisation and validation of wood properties in birch for industrial use and future breeding

Objectives

The main aim of this project is to improve wood quality of birch available to the forest industry by using a novel approach to selection.

Technical Approach

Instead of traditional selection breeding where the selection criteria have been based on growth rate and external quality of stem, advanced biotechnology will be used to improve selection methods and breeding of birch (Betula pendula) to provide defined raw material for the wood processing and pulp and paper industries. This will lead to:

more efficient breeding methods for wood characteristics
estimates of genetic correlations involving wood characters
trials and archives of trees with different wood characters
a possible improvement in the quality of wood available to meet expected future demand

The work is timely since there is an increasing demand for European-grown birch with high quality pulp. Sweden and Finland alone imports about 6 million m³ per annum from non-EU countries. Demand is expected to rise and internal production in Europe will need to be increased if levels of imports are to be minimised. There is also pressure on the forest industry to plant native hardwoods instead of exotic species, since these are environmentally more acceptable to the populations of many European countries. Improvement in the quality of birch for pulping will increase financial returns to landowners who plant this species, thereby encouraging further plantation, while offering European pulp and paper manufacturers important cost savings and increased competitiveness. The tested selection procedures to be used comprise micropropagation, molecular markers, anatomical analysis of the wood and properties for pulp, paper and veneer. In the project, trees growing in the widely different conditions prevailing in Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom and Germany will be examined by seven partners including 2 industrial enterprises, from five different member states.

The work programme has 7 interrelated objectives:

Examination of the variation of a range of anatomical properties relevant to the forestry industry in selected genotypes of birch.
Examination of the variation of the same properties within a single selected 10 year old micropropagated genotype which has been grown in different environments in four different countries (the outcome from a COST action).
Determination of veneer, pulp and paper qualities associated with wood anatomy.
Examination in the variation in juvenile and mature cambium in different genotypes and the variation in gene expression associated with this character.
Linking molecular (AFLP) markers to properties identified in 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Breeding strategy scenarios for higher quality birch assisted by biotechnical methods.
Establish field trials for demonstration and provision of breeding material and future scientific studies.

Birch stand from Ö. Vram in Sweden from which one genotype was selected

Light micrograph of a transverse section through birch wood
showing the presence

Glass jar with micropropagated birch shoots
initiated from one selected genotype

Contacts

Coordinator

Margareta WELANDER / The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences / SWEDEN

EC Scientific Officer

Alexandros ARABATZIS / European Commission DG Research Theme 1 Key Action 5.3 / BELGIUM

Participant