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U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science
Poplar Genome Based Research for Carbon Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems |
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Principal investigator:
David F. Karnosky, Michigan Technological University karnosky@mtu.edu Co-investigators: Gail Taylor, University of Southampton; G. Krishna Podila, University of Alabama-Huntsville; Alistair Rogers, Brookhaven National Laboratory; Don Riemenschneider, USDA Forest Service; Chung-Jui Tsai, Michigan Technological University Project period: April 2004 to present ER63792, KPCH134 |
An integrated functional genomics consortium to increase carbon sequestration in poplars: optimizing aboveground carbon gain
Summary: This project is examining ways to increase the aboveground carbon sequestration potential of poplars. The project is using gene expression patterns from two forest Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiments (Aspen FACE in northern Wisconsin and POPFACE in Italy) in combination with Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis, using a mapping pedigree of Populus. The aim is to use patterns of global gene expression to identify candidate genes for increased carbon sequestration, using a combination of transcriptomics and QTL analysis. Ultimately, this information will be linked to specific regions of the recently sequenced poplar genome. Gene expression studies area being linked to physiological measurements which aim to elucidate bottlenecks in carbon acquisition in trees grown in elevated CO2 concentrations. Delayed senescence allowing additional carbon uptake is being examined under both the gene expression and QTL studies. Expression of target genes is being tested in elite P. deltoides x P. trichocarpa hybrids. |