|
About the Conference
Conference Theme
The theme of the joint conference
of multiple working parties related to breeding and genetic resource
management of IUFRO Division 2 will be "Forest Genetics and Tree
Breeding in the Age of Genomics- Progress and Future".
Conference Topics
The main topics of the conference
will include:
- Advances in Breeding Strategies
- Testing and Selection Strategies for
Gains and Sustainability
- Integration of Genetics with Silviculture
for Maximum Gains
- Genetic Gain Modeling and Prediction
- Genetic Diversity and Gene Conservation
- Breeding and Deployment for Disease
and Pest Resistance
- Genetic Improvement of Wood Quality
- Progress on Reproductive Biology and
Seed Orchard Management
- Advances in Vegetative Propagation
and Clonal Forestry
- Application of Biotechnology and Genomics
in Forest Genetics and Breeding
- Case Studies of Major Breeding Programs
Conference Format
Keynote speakers will be invited
for major topics in plenary sessions. Contributed papers will be accepted
on all topics of the conference in plenary sessions and concurrent sessions.
Posters will also be accepted on all topics of the conference. A conference
proceeding will be published with papers and abstracts.
The conference presentations and discussion
will be from Monday to Thursday (November 1-4). On Friday (November
5), there will be an optional field trip to visit MeadWestvaco Corporation
near Charleston. We will see all aspects of breeding and tree improvement
with loblolly pine (Pinus teada), including breeding facilities, progeny
and clone testing, vegetative propagation, greenhouse, seed orchard,
nursery, and improved pine plantations. We will also visit a biotechnology
company, ArborGen, for some forest biotechnology and bioinformatics
research.
Background
Significant progress has been made in forest genetic research and
tree breeding in the last three decades. Many breeding programs in the
world have achieved substantial genetic gains in productivity, pest
resistance and wood quality. Genetically improved plantations from breeding
programs have had and continue to make significant impacts on forest
productivity, wood supplies, and sustainability of forest resources.
As some breeding programs are moving into advanced generations, it is
timely to review the up-to-date progress and evaluate current strategies
in breeding, selection, deployment, and genetic resources management.
As a vast amount of new information has been accumulated in biotechnology
and genomics in recent years, it is critical to explore opportunities
on how to incorporate these tools into forest genetics research and
tree breeding programs.
A joint IUFRO meeting was held in the southern U.S. in 1986 in Williamsburg,
Virginia, and the focus of the field trips was on the loblolly pine
breeding program. Since then, great progress has been made, like other
major programs in the world, on breeding and intensive plantation program
in this region, where 1.3 billion seedlings are planted annually that
account for 80% of the nation's forest plantation program. Intensive
management of pine plantations with the best genetically improved planting
stock and the best silviculture is becoming common practice by forest
industries in this region. Thus, there is no a better place to have
a meeting to summarize the latest progress in the fields of forest genetics,
tree breeding, genetic resource management, and biotechnology and to
look to the future of genomics in breeding. In addition to the technical
presentations and discussion, conference attendees will have first-hand
opportunities to visit and learn more about how active breeding programs
and plantation programs in the southern U.S have contributed to the
sustained management of global forest resources.
The purpose of this conference is to update the progress in major areas
of breeding and genetic resource management and to explore opportunities
for integration of new biotechnology and genomics information to develop
optimum strategies.
|
