PhD course: Quantitative Genetics and Genomic Breeding in Forest Trees

The course introduces quantitative genetics and genomic analysis for tree breeding, combining theory with practical data analysis. It covers linear and mixed linear models, breeding value prediction, genotype × environment interactions, GWAS, and genomic selection.

Start date: 4 May 2026 00:00

End date: 12 May 2026 00:00

Language: English

Last day of registration: 7 April 2026

Organiser: Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology

Location: Umeå

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The PhD students will gain hands-on experience using R and ASReml-R to design, evaluate, and improve breeding strategies through the integration of genomic information.

On completion of the course, the student will be able to:

- Use R programing and ASReml-R for genetic data analysis
- Construct additive relationship matrices among relatives.
- Partition additive, dominance, and epistatic genetic variances.
- Estimate heritability, genetic correlations, and genetic gain.
- Analyze progeny data across multiple traits and environments to predict breeding values.
- Estimate genotype × environment interaction and identify its underlying drivers.
- Perform genome-wide association analyses for QTL discovery.
- Apply genomic selection methods.

For more information on the course please visit the course page at the doctoral course portal.

Program

The course is carried out with lectures, guest lectures, programming using R and ASReml, compulsory quizzes and compulsory final assignment.

This course is organised jointly by the SLU breeding network and Forest genetics, biotechnology and tree breeding research schools. Two main instructors will be Professor Fikret Isik, North Carolina State University, and Professor Harry Wu, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Evaluation will be through assignments, with detailed assessment criteria provided at the start of the course. Grading will consist of quizzes (40%) and a final assignment (60%).

Preliminary schedule of lectures:

Monday, May 4: 08:30–12:00 — Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (Wu);
13:00–16:30 — Linear Mixed Models (Wu)

Tuesday, May 5: 8:30–12:00 — Introduction to ASReml-R (Isik); 13:00–16:30 —Breeding Values: Concepts and Estimation (Isik)

Wednesday, May 6: 08:30–12:00 — Resemblance Among Relatives (Wu); 13:00–16:30  — Genetic Values: Concepts and Estimation (Isik)

Thursday, May 7: 08:30–12:00 — Individual Tree Model (Wu); 13:30–16:00 —
Genomic Relationship Likelihood Parentage Assignment (Isik)

Friday, May 8: 08:30–12:00 — Genotype × Environment Interaction (Wu);
13:00–16:30 — Exploratory Marker Data Analysis (Isik)

Monday, May 11: 08:30–12:00 — Genome-Wide Association Study (Wu); 13:00–16:30 — Genomic Selection I (Isik)

Tuesday, May 12: 08:30–12:00 — Spatial Models and Breeding Value Prediction (Wu); 13:00–16:30 — Genomic Selection II (Extended) (Isik)