Identifying the genetic basis of adaptation to environmental stressors in loblolly pine and other conifers to improve forest health and productivity

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) represents the principal commercial forest species in the southeastern United States, with millions of acres covered by these two conifers from Texas to New Jersey. Loblolly pine in particular is of great commercial relevance given its abundance, rapid juvenile growth, and pulpwood and lumber value. Because of its widespread distribution, loblolly pine also plays a fundamental ecological role in the forest landscape. The management, conservation, and commercial improvement of these pine species are key priorities for forest scientists. For example, predicted changes in climate changewill lead to decreased precipitation and higher overall temperatures in along most of the current loblolly range. Because trees cannot rapidly adapt to changes of this magnitude, intervention will be required to guarantee the identification, selection and propagation of varieties with higher tolerance to drought. Modern genetic and genomic tools in combination with traditional breeding techniques allow to detetmine the genetic basis of variation in traits such as drought tolerance in trees and to accelerate the process of selecting high performing and drought tolerant varieties from exissint populations..........

Identifying the genetic basis of adaptation to environmental stressors in loblolly pine and other conifers to improve forest health and productivity Grant