Sunday, May 4, 2008
1-22

Genome-enabled discovery of carbon allocation genes in Populus

Wilfred Vermerris1, Jianfei Zhao2, Alison Morse3, Matias Kirst3, John M. Davis3, and Gerald Tuskan4. (1) Genetics Institute and Agronomy department, University of Florida, 1376 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610-3610, (2) Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, 1376 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610-3610, (3) School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 1376 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610-3610, (4) Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831

Populus spp. (Black and Eastern Cottonwood, quaking aspen, balsam poplar) represent fast-growing hardwood tree species native to temperate regions of the world with a high carbon sequestration potential and the ability to provide woody biomass for the production of fuels and green chemical feedstocks. The availability of the poplar genome sequence, the genetic diversity among different poplar species, and the ability to generate transgenics, enable the development of poplar trees that are optimally adapted for carbon sequestration per se, or the production of lignocellulosic biomass for bioenergy production. In order for this to become a reality, it is necessary to identify genes involved in carbon sequestration – the ability of the tree to capture CO2 and generate photosynthate – and carbon allocation – the partitioning of the photosynthate between different parts of the tree and between different cell wall polymers and other metabolites.  We are using a pseudo-backcross population of (P. trichocarpa x P.deltoides) x P. deltoides to identify genes that affect root biomass, root architecture and root composition.  The population (285 individuals, three ramets each, two nitrogen regimens) is genotyped using SSR and AFLP markers. We are developing a high-througput compositional analys for root tissue, based on near infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis mass spectrometry.  The genotypic and phenotypic analyses are followed up with high-throughput gene expression analyses using microarrays.  Combined with the poplar genome sequence, this approach is expected to lead to the identification of candidate genes that can be further evaluated through transgenic up- and down-regulation.

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