1. Genetic containment methods. The goal is to produce reliable sterility systems to provide high level genetic
containment for when this is needed for ecological protection or social acceptance. We produce and field-test trees with engineered
sterility genes, emphasizing genes that are likely to work in a variety of tree species. Emphasis is on eucalypts, poplar and sweetgum
as sources of genes and test species.
2. Acceleration of flowering to speed breeding and research. We have been studying use of the Flowering Locus
T gene (FT) as a means to induce the precocious formation of flowers in poplars under greenhouse conditions. The main goal is to accelerate the
evaluation of sterility transgenes.
3. Floral transcriptomics of Eucalyptus. We are conducting "NextGen," high throughput sequencing of mRNA from
eucalypt flowers at several stages of development to characterize development and inform efforts to design eucalypt sterility genes.
4. Epigenomics. We are using "NextGen" sequencing
of immunoprecipitated DNA to characterize changes in genome-wide methylation
during poplar development, including tissue differentiation, dormancy,
and tissue culture.
5. Genes for transformation improvement. We are evaluating several regeneration-promoting transgenes as tools to enhance the rate of transformation of difficult species, with emphasis on eucalypts, poplars, and woody ornamentals.