Contact
Geoffrey Daniel
Researcher at the Department of Forest Products, SLU
Telephone: 018-672489, 070-6832062
E-mail: geoffrey.daniel@slu.se
Genetics of wood traits in Salix
Last changed: 05 February 2024
Here, we are developing markers in key genes for wood traits that make early selection possible. This makes breeding more efficient and increase the potential genetic gain.
In order to develop and breed willow varieties that are better suited for use as biofuel crops, we need to improve our understanding of the structure and chemistry of willow wood. We also need to know more about the genetic variation in different wood traits that will provide for improved lignocellulose disruption and subsequent enzymatic saccharification.
Almost half a century of pre-breeding research and commercial breeding of Salix in Sweden gives access to a wide range of well defined Salix material. In this project we will utilize this unique material to assess the aims below.
These are our aims for this project:
- Identify variation in wood/chemical properties in Salix clones and estimate their correlation with production of biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel
- Identify associations between genetic markers and wood/chemical traits
- Estimate the effect of these markers on the phenotype and find possibilities for breeding
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Salix clones will be samples at different parts along the stems. The composition and volume relationships between fibres, vessels & parenchyma cells will be measured. Photo: Geoffrey Daniel.
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Transverse Salix sections will be used to quantify tissue/cell element relationships. Photo: Geoffrey Daniel.
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Macerated Salix samples showing morphological features of fibres, vessels & parenchyma cells. Photo: Geoffrey Daniel.
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Involved in the project
Ann-Christin Rönnberg Wästljung
Associate Professor at the Department of Plant Biology
Telephone: 018-673316
E-mail: anki.wastljung@slu.se
Geoffrey Daniel
Professor at the Department of Forest Products
Telephone: 018-672489, 070-6832062
E-mail: geoffrey.daniel@slu.se
Nasko Terziev
Professor at the Department of Forest Products; Division of Wood Science
Telephone: 018-672589, 070-6672589
E-mail: nasko.terziev@slu.se
Martin Weih
Professor at the Department of Crop Protection Ecology
Telephone: 018-672543
E-mail: martin.weih@slu.se
Nils-Erik Nordh
Research Engineer at the Department of Crop Production
Telephone: 018-672561
E-mail: nils-erik.nordh@slu.se