A dosage-based resource for functional genomics in Poplar

The overall goal is to provide new genomic tools for poplar breeders to rapidly identify poplar germplasms with unique genotypes with increased biomass yields. The research takes advantage of advances in DNA sequencing technology to produce and characterize trees that carry additional or missing chromosomal regions. Such properties can confer faster growth. The development of high yielding bioenergy poplar will decrease the acreage required for biomass production, minimize food vs. biofuels land use trade-offs, and the cost of biomass per dry ton, while increasing biofuels carbon balance and sustainability. The project also explores fundamental features of ploidy changes, dosage and heterosis underlying Populus hybrids and their phenotypes.

本研究的总体目标是向杨树育种者提供新的基因组工具，以快速识别具有独特基因型并提高生物量产量的杨树种质资源。研究利用DNA测序技术的进步，培育并表征携带额外或缺失染色体区域的树木，此类特性可赋予其更快的生长速度。发展高产生物能源杨树将减少生物量生产所需的土地面积，最小化粮食与生物燃料土地利用之间的权衡，降低每干吨生物量的成本，同时提高生物燃料的碳平衡和可持续性。项目还探讨了杨树杂交种及其表型背后的多倍体变化、剂量和杂种优势的基本特征。