U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science

Poplar Genome Based Research for Carbon Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems
Principal investigator:
Matias Kirst, University of Florida
mkirst@ufl.edu

Co-investigators:
Gary F. Peter and Timothy A. Martin, University of Florida

Project period:
August 2005 to present


ER64114 		  Genomic mechanisms of carbon allocation and partitioning in poplar

Summary: Using the Populus trichocarpa genome sequence, this project is exploring the molecular basis of natural variation in carbon allocation (i.e., carbon translocation from source to sink organs) and partitioning (i.e., carbon distribution into different chemical structures) in poplar, and determining specific genes that when modified can increase carbon flow into sink organs and chemical forms that are favored for long term carbon storage.

Specific goals include:

  • identification of genomic regions involved in carbon partitioning and allocation traits, based on traditional genetic approaches (QTL analysis), and definition of a set of candidate genes based on the genome sequence;
  • development of a specialized microarray comprising the candidate genes detected previously, to identify those genes most highly associated in expression with the carbon allocation and partitioning traits;
  • identification of genes in genomic regions of interest (QTL interval) whose predicted function and expression are correlated with carbon allocation and partitioning; and
  • use of genetic transformation to characterize and verify functioning of the identified genes.
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