Developing improved wood qualities using poplar as model system and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Developing improved wood qualities using poplar as model system and Eucalyptus as proof of concept

Gene based breeding : The Opportunity 10 000 Year ago Domestication Breeding revolution 1995 Biotechnology revolution

GMO in agriculture Traits Current and future Insect resistance BT • Herbicide resistance • • Virus resistance Water use • Nutritional/ quality •

Wood quality Possibilities to modify/ improve wood quality in commercial Eucalyptus plantations Improve wood quality in best growing and most pest resistant • eucalyptus clones. – Breeding – GMO’s • Using new proprietary technologies • Using “old” technologies for which any patents has expired – E.g. many of the lignin based technologies Improve growth properties in Eucalyptus clones that have • better/optimal wood qualities – Breeding – GMO’s

R & D plan : Breeding based on gene knowledge New genes Current genes

Gene Source and Target Phenotypes WoodHeads Wood chemistry Internal Gene Mining Program Fiber dimensions External Collaborators (Academic and Industrial) Breeding Nutrient Uptake Stress tolerance Growth

Large scale gene testing in Hybrid aspen ABCDE2M 100Normalized Intensity (log scale) 10 1 0,1 Gene selection Cloning and transformation section 0,01 B C D A E Specific analysis Such as: Drought stress WUE Nutrient uptake Bio fuel related Phenotypic analysis Greenhouse test

Example: Results wood density Wood density : GMO / Control 145% 140% 135% GMO Max /WT Mean 130% 125% 120% GMO Mean / 115% WT Mean 110% 105% 100%

Wood density Wood volume versus

• Field trials • Gene development • Development in Eucalyptus

Hybrid aspen field trials On-going field trials: • In collaboration w. Umeå Plant Science Center: • 18 genes giving increased growth. • 10 genes coupled to wood chemistry and wood quality.  15 % of the genes have, up to • 2 genes coupled to drought tolerance. now, showed positive effects in • Swetree field trials: • 17 genes giving increased growth. the field • 4 genes coupled to drought tolerance. >> In total: 51 genes in field trials. • Field trial sites in the southern part of Sweden.

Gene development

Eucalyptus transformation and product development SweTree has developed transformation protocols for several elite Eucalyptus clones and actively transforms such clones for product development purposes.

SweTree Technologies AB have an scientific innovation base Woodheads AB an holding company owned by a group of senior scientists in Swedish forest biotechnology. SweTree has the rights to all their inventions.

Berzelii Centre for Forest Biotechnology 24 Group leaders (8 full, 11 associate, 3 assistant professors) 41 graduate students 41 post-doctoral researchers Technical/administrative personnel

Strong Research Environments in Forest Biotechnology Publications and collaborations in journals with impact factor >5

Bioimprove

Thank you!