Poplar

1
Poplar Molecular Genetics Cooperative
Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Westvaco
Corporation Boise Cascade Corporation Potlatch
Corporation Weyerhaeuser Company US Dept of
Energy Washington State University Bioenergy
Feedstock Development Program University
of Washington
Toby BradshawPMGC Directortoby_at_u.washington.edu
206.616.1796 (phone)206.685.1728 (FAX)
2
Poplar Molecular Genetics Cooperative

• Increase understanding of the molecular genetic
  mechanisms causing variation in productivity and
  quality traits in hybrid poplar.
• Use research results to accelerate progress in
  poplar breeding.

3
PMGC research accomplishments

• Breeding and nursery evaluation of 15,000 new
  hybrid poplar clones involving 5 Populus species
  (1995-97)
• Distribution of 50,000 cuttings to coop members
  for testing on two continents (1996-2001)
• Development of very large hybrid pedigrees for
  fine-scale genetic mapping and positional cloning
  (1996-97)

4
PMGC research accomplishments

• Development of 100 microsatellite (SSR) markers
  for genetic mapping, paternity analysis, and DNA
  fingerprinting (1998-99)
• DNA fingerprinting service for PMGC members
  (1998-2001)
• Co-development of the first Populus BAC library
  (1998)
• Identification of candidate genes controlling
  vegetative dormancy (1998-2000)
• Fine-scale genetic and physical mapping of a
  poplar disease resistance gene (1996-2001)

5
Genetic map around Mxc3
6
Physical map around Mxc3

7
PMGC research accomplishments

• 750K in extramural funding to support PMGC
  research objectives (1995-2001)
• Collaboration with George Newcombe (U Idaho) on
  the genetics of disease resistance
• Collaboration with ORNL on wood quality QTLs
  (1997-2000), synteny with Arabidopsis (2000), and
  domestication (2001)
• Collaboration with TGERC on triploid sterility,
  gene flow, and domestication genes (1995-2001)
• Training of 3 graduate students (1996-2001)

8
Current PMGC research

• Identification and testing of domestication genes
• Integration of poplar genome sequencing effort
  (DOE JGI) with existing programs in poplar
  genomics worldwide (pedigree development, genetic
  mapping, physical mapping, EST sequencing,
  functional genomics, bioinformatics)

9
PHYTOCHROME B
R
FR

• Phytochromes sense the ratio of redfar-red light

10
PHYTOCHROME B
R
FR

• Decreased RFR (incipient competition) causes
  trees to increase stem growth, via Phytochrome B
  (PHYB)

11
PHYTOCHROME B

• phyB mutant plants (Arabidopsis, tobacco, canola)
  have greatly (50-100) increased stem growth.
• Will elimination of PHYB function increase tree
  growth, especially early in the rotation? Will
  there be unwanted side effects, perhaps on
  dormancy or water use?
• We have cloned the Populus PHYB genes to find out
  

12
hpDNA
PHYB
PHYB
CaMV 35S
intron
Transcription and splicing of hpDNA mRNA
PHYB
dsRNA causes the specific elimination of normal
PHYB mRNA throughout the tree
13
A wealth of candidate transgenes
with hundreds more on the way from ongoing
genomics research
14
(No Transcript)
15
From the ELF communiquè

• "Bradshaw, the driving force in G.E. tree
  research, continues to unleash mutant genes into
  the environment that is sic certain to cause
  irreversible harm to forest ecosystems. As long
  as universities continue to pursue this reckless
  'science,' they run the risk of suffering severe
  losses. Our message remains clear, we are
  determined to stop genetic engineering."

16
From the ELF FAQ

• Capitalism as a target is not easily
  identifiable due to it being an ideology rather
  than a physical object. But forms and symbols of
  capitalism can be targeted successfully the
  list is endless but could include such symbols in
  the U.S. as Mt. Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty,
  Disney, Wall Street, etc.

17
PMGC public education

• New York Times, AP, Seattle Times, Portland
  Oregonian
• Time, Newsweek
• Nature, Science, U.S. Farm Report, Farm Journal
• CBS News, KING 5, Northwest Cable News, Sydney
  Broadcasting
• KUOW Weekday, KVI
• Environmental Review Newsletter
• Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology
• Washington State Legislature