ForestPlant Genomics and Biotechnology Research at UNB

1
Forest/Plant Genomics and Biotechnology Research
at UNB

• Om P. Rajora
• Professor Senior Canada Research Chair in
• Forest and Conservation Genomics
• and Biotechnology
• University of New Brunswick
• Fredericton, NB

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Forests in Canada

• Forests are economically, ecologically,
  environmentally and socially important
• Canada has
• 10 of the worlds forests
• 35 of the worlds Boreal forest
• 20 of the worlds temperate rain forest
• Canada is the worlds largest forest products
  exporter (21)
• 2004-Exports-44.6 billion balance of trade
  34.5 billion GDP 35.9 billion
• Key element in current and future economic and
  environmental health of Canada

3
Economic and Ecological Forest Sustainability

• Threatened
• Increased use of forest resources
• Slow growth
• Unprecedented rapid climate change
• Forest sustainability could be achieved
• Improvement of productivity, health, quality and
  adaptation of our forest
• Conservation and sustainable management of our
  forest (genetic) resources

4
Comparative Structural and Functional Spruce
Genomics
EST and Full-length cDNA Sequencing and Gene
Discovery

• Genome Sequencing
• Gene-rich under-
• methylated DNA

Bioinformatics
Genome Mapping
Bs x Rs
Bs

• Gene Expression Profiling
• Microarray

QTL mapping Climate Change Abiotic Stress
Adaptation Traits
Bs x Rs
Bs
5
Population and Conservation Genetics and Genomics

• Genetic/genomic diversity, population structure,
  evolution and adaptation
• Gene dispersal and minimum viable population size
• Genetic/genomic effects of forest management
  practices, forest fragmentation and natural
  disturbance
• Genetic association studies
• Conservation and sustainable management of forest
  genetic resources

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Forest/Plant Genomics and Biotechnology Research
New Initiatives

• Biofuels
• Plant Pharmacogenomics