# Presentation: 157385

## Poplar

**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@u.washington.edu206.616.1796 (phone)206.685.1728 (FAX)

## 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.**

## 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)**

## 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)**

## Genetic map around Mxc3

## Physical map around Mxc3

## 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)**

## 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)**

## PHYTOCHROME B

- Phytochromes sense the ratio of red:far-red light

- R

- FR

## PHYTOCHROME B

- Decreased R:FR (incipient competition) causes trees to increase stem growth, *via* Phytochrome B (PHYB)

- R

- FR

## 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 ...

## hpDNA

- dsRNA causes the specific elimination of normal *PHYB* mRNA throughout the tree

**CaMV 35S**

- Transcription and splicing of hpDNA >> mRNA

***PHYB***

***PHYB***

***PHYB***

**intron**

## A wealth of candidate transgenes

| Gene name | Function |
| --- | --- |
| Lateral suppressor | Branching |
| Gibberellic acid insensitive | Height growth |
| Cyclin D | Cell division |
| ATHB-2 | Height and diameter growth |
| Erecta | Branch angle, stem thickness |
| Revoluta | Stem thickness |
| Aintegumenta | Organ size |

- ... with hundreds more on the way from ongoing genomics research

## Slide 14

## 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."

## 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 ... [t]he list is endless but could include such symbols in the U.S. as Mt. Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, Disney, Wall Street, etc.”

## 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