Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Eucalypts

ISBN: 9781482254129 出版年：2014 页码：205 CRC Press

Eucalypts are the most widely planted hardwood tree in the world, with over 900 species grown in over 90 countries worldwide (Turnbull 1999; Shepherd et al. 2011; Grattapaglia et al. 2012). Their most desirable traits for forestry include: coppicing (re-growth from harvested stumps), fast growth rate and straight form, and their ability to survive in areas with varying rainfall and soil types (Myburg et al. 2007; Grattapaglia 2008). In tropical climates, commercial varieties of eucalypts can produce up to 50 green tons of biomass/acre/year (Rockwood et al. 2008; Hinchee et al. 2009). More recently, eucalypts have been considered as a potential sustainable feedstock for lignocellulosic biofuels to eliminate competition between fuel crops and agriculture, and reduce CO2 emissions from combustion of traditional fossil fuels. As forestry, pulp and paper, and energy industries grow, eucalypts have been the focus of tree breeding and improvement programs to better understand the genetic controls of wood formation and stress response. Knowledge of the structure of eucalypt genomes is a key resource for genetic improvement efforts. This chapter reviews knowledge of the genes and gene sequences of the nuclear and organellar genomes of eucalypts. A summary of eucalypt sequence databases (Tables 7-2, 7-3, 7-4) and micro-dissection techniques for tissue specific cDNA libraries (Table 7-5) can be found throughout the chapter.