SpeedBreed – Accelerated breeding for improved hardwood growth and quality

Researcher

Dr. Juha Immanen, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Helsinki and Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) joint project

Supervisor

Dr. Kaisa Nieminen, University of Helsinki and Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

Description of the project:

It is difficult to exaggerate the role of trees and forests in the mitigation of climate change: trees are elementary

both as essential long-term carbon sink and as raw material for the bioeconomy. By accelerating tree breeding, the aim of my project is to both mitigate the effects of climate change and facilitate the adaptation to them.

By developing an accelerated speed-breeding program for silver birch, my project will facilitate the production of improved ha

rdwood genotypes for silviculture purposes. My project tests novel high-throughput techniques tree phenotyping: 3D laser scanning of forest tree trials and automated high-precision architectural analysis of greenhouse grown trees. To identify the genetic basis of the best speed-bred trees I will genotype them through genomic DNA sequencing and further identify wood development related genes through RNA-sequencing based expression analyses.

The best speed-bred genotypes can be directly incorporated into Luke’s ongoing traditional birch breeding program.