Highlights 2001-2002

• TGERC staff receive major competitive grants from USDA, DOE, and the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology to support work on biotechnology of flowering control, changes in gene expression during maturation, and discovery of novel genes for control of tree height and form.

 

• Greatly expanded field-testing area and newly established field trials established to study genetic engineering of sterility and to identify new genes that control tree form.

 

• Activation tagging studies has led to isolation of a new gene that controls metabolism of gibberellin in trees-a key plant hormone that regulates height growth, crown form, and flowering.

 

• An intensive audit of our laboratory and field trials by Monsanto-who is seeking to ensure all their collaborators have rigorous biosafety practices in place-showed that our laboratory and its collaborators have an outstanding record of biosafety and regulatory compliance.

 

• TGERC Scientists are recognized via promotions and commendations for outstanding work. Dr. Brunner is promoter to Research Assistant Professor, Dr. Meilan to Research Associate Professor, and Dr. Strauss is commended for "extraordinary performance" after an in-depth performance review. These reviews all noted the outstanding reputation for excellence in forest biotechnology research that TGERC and OSU is known for worldwide.

 

• TGERC staff members continue to be recognized by colleagues for their expertise in biotechnology. They were invited to give a number of lectures at regional, national, and international meetings on the science, technology, and biosafety of genetically engineered trees.