Registration opens

Welcome and IUFRO overview

PS1 Plenary Presentation: What’s up with Lignin? A romp through
attempts to perturb and even arrogantly reimagine lignification

John Ralph, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Opening reception

Welcome & Announcements

1.1 Keynote Presentation: Abiotic Stress Response and Memory Acquisition Processes in Pine Species

Mónica Meijón, University of Oviedo

1.2 Keynote presentation: Beyond GWAS: gaining insights into gene setsa using multi-omic networks

David Kainer, University of Queensland

1.3 Early Career Keynote Presentation: Telomere-to-Telomere Insights: The Evolution and Organization of Populus Centromeres and Abundant Tandem Repeat Arrays

Ran Zhou, University of Georgia

Coffee Break

1.4 Using landscape genomics to explore the genotype-environment
association in Picea glauca x Picea engelmannii hybrid complex in western Canada

Zhengyang Ye, University of British Columbia

1.5 Annual dynamics of the transcriptomes and the DNA methylation in spruce epitypes

Igor Yakolev, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research

1.6 Why is amenability to transformation so variable? Phenomic system development and GWAS studies of in planta and in vitro regeneration and transformation in Populus trichocarpa

Steve Strauss, Oregon State University

1.7 Single-cell genomics of Populus lignified stems reveals distinct cell
population and developmental tracing of cambial derivatives

Henry Schmidt, University of Florida

1.8 Regulation of Secondary Cell Wall Biosynthesis by a GATA Transcription Factor in Populus

Jay Chen, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Lunch

2.1 Keynote Presentation: Coding and non-coding transcripts reveal
differential regulatory, metabolic, and physiological networks in somatic embryogenesis induction in woody species

Sandra Correia, University of Coimbra

2.2 Keynote Presentation: In vitro flowering as a design-build-test-learn chassis for reproductive trait engineering in poplar

Chung-Jui Tsai, University of Georgia

2.3 ECR Keynote Presentation: Simultaneous activation of multiple genes boosts poplar regeneration and growth using CRISPR-Combo

Gen Li, University of Maryland

Coffee Break

2.4 Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) as a model conifer species for tree biotechnology

Yoshihiko Nanasato, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

2.5 Developing new capabilities for poplar genetic engineering

Xiaohan Yang, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

2.6 Towards transgene-free multiplex CRISPR-Cas genome editing in Eucalyptus

Carlos Cofre-Vega, North Carolina State University

2.7 Back to the future: A co-transformation approach with Agrobacterium T-DNA genes promotes regeneration of transgenic woody plants

Greg Goralogia, Oregon State University

Poster Session (odd number posters; The session ends at 18:30)

Welcome & Announcements

3.1 Keynote Presentation: Genetic and epigenetic regulation of
secondary growth in Populus during development and in response to
drought stress

Wei Li, Northeast Forestry University

3.2 Keynote Presentation: The form of a tree: Strigolactone-deficient tree mutant reveals a connection between higher order branching and a decreased auxin gradient along the main stem

Kaisa Nieminen, University of Helsinki

3.3 ECR Keynote Presentation: To grow up or grow out: The regulation and manipulation of branch orientation in fruit trees

Courtney Hollander, Michigan State University

Coffee Break

3.4 Exploring the Multifaceted Roles of Xylem-Biased SULTR3s in Populus

Samantha Surber, University of Georgia

3.5 The Role of FT-like Genes in Aspen Tree Local Adaptation

Lee Keh Chien, Umeå Plant Science Centre

3.6 Fantastic HD-ZIPIII and PIN genes and where to find them- Molecular regulators of wound-induced secondary vascular tissue regeneration

Antanas Spokevicius, University of Melbourne

3.7 Unraveling gene regulatory networks governing cork development and drought response in cork oak

Pedro M. Barros, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa

3.8 Identification of the molecular drivers of the poplar adaptation to drought by single-nuclei transcriptomics

Daniel Conde, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - Instituto Nacional de
Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC)

Lunch

4.1 Keynote Presentation: Genome Editing: A new Mutagenesis Tool for Tree Breeding in Arauco

Claudio Balocchi, Bioforest Arauco

4.2 Keynote Presentation: Engineering citrus disease resistance via transgene-free CRISPR genome editing

Nian Wang, University of Florida

4.3 Keynote Presentation: Regulation of Genetically Engineered Organisms under USDA’s Modernized Biotechnology Regulations

Sarah Prewitt, USDA-APHIS

Coffee Break

4.4 Genotyping-by-sequencing to assess genetic variation in
Polygonatum verticillatum Linn. for conservation measures

Anchal Rana, Forest Research Institute

4.5 Engineering Tree Metal Pathways to Enhance Carbon Sequestration and Retention

Yongxian Lu, Living Carbon PBC

4.6 Sustainable weed control strategy with glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified Eucalyptus

Rodrigo Neves Graca, FuturaGene/Suzano

WG 2.04.06 Business Meeting

Poster Session (even number posters; The session ends at 18:30)

Welcome and Announcements

PS2 Plenary Presentation: Natural molecular genetic variation of forest trees – a cornucopia or a nuisance?

Tanja Pyhäjärvi, University of Helsinki

5.1 Keynote Presentation: The defensome of Eucalyptus reveals core resistance mechanisms against pathogens

Sanushka Naidoo, University of Pretoria

5.2 Keynote Presentation: Elucidating the effect of single gene modifications on drought stress tolerance of poplars (Populus)

Tobias Bruegmann, Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics

Coffee Break

5.3 Rewatering following exposure to combined drought stress and pathogen infection triggers distinct transcriptomic changes indicating a trade-off between stress response and growth in Eucalyptus grandis

Demissew Tesfaye Teshome, University of Pretoria

5.4 Host molecular responses clarify roles for ophiostomatoid fungal
symbionts of mountain pine beetle during mass attack of lodgepole pines

Janice Cooke, University of Alberta

5.5 Understanding White pine blister Resistance using a Multi-omics Approach

Amanda De La Torre, Northern Arizona University

5.6 Exploring Phenolic Composition and Resistance in Wood-Transformed Hybrid Aspen Trees

Benedicte Riber Albrectsen, Umeå Plant Science Centre

Lunch

6.1 Keynote Presentation: Nanopore direct total RNA sequencing via poly modified-adenosine tailing

Yinan Yuan, Michigan Technological University

6.2 ECR Keynote Presentation: PacBio sequencing for Spanish fir resilience: Genomic insights for sustainable forest management

Vanessa Castro Rodriguez, Universidad de Málaga

6.3 ECR Keynote Presentation: Development of KASP markers for gene stacking disease resistance in Pinus taeda

Trevor Walker, North Carolina State University

Coffee Break

6.4 Decoding Genetic Basis of Dwarfism in Loblolly Pine

Pinar Guner, North Carolina State University

6.5 Relatedness matrix and selection index applied to genetic improvement of pine for timber
Ananda Virginia de Aguiar, Embrapa Florestas

6.6 Progeny Clonal Field Trials: a breakthrough (and challenging)
approach for Eucalyptus improvement, combining breeding cycles
reduction and proper application of genomic tools

Bruno Marco de Lima, Bracell

Conference Awards

Break

Conference Dinner (at Buddy's Crabs & Ribs)

Welcome & Announcements

7.1 Keynote Presentation: Enhanced Resistance Pines for Improved Renewable Biofuel and Chemical Production

Gary Peter, University of Florida

7.2 Keynote Presentation: Towards Transgene-Free Multiplex CRISPR-Cas Genome Mutagenesis in Eucalyptus

Jack Wang, North Carolina State University

7.3 Keynote Presentation: Enhancing monolignol ferulate conjugate levels in poplar lignin via OsFMT1

Faride Unda, University of British Columbia

Coffee Break

7.4 Unravelling the plant cell wall polysaccharides – a pathway to plant-based fuels and products for a sustainable bio-economy

Ajaya K Biswal, University of Georgia

7.5 R2R3 MYB transcription factors, MYB010 and MYB128, regulate the formation of cross-laminated secondary cell wall structure in aspen wood

Naoki Takata, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

7.6 Multiplex CRISPR editing of wood for sustainable fiber production

Daniel Barletta Sulis, North Carolina State University

7.7. Closing Keynote: Improving wood quality: from gene discovery in Arabidopsis to GM trees in the field

Wout Boerjan, Ghent University, VIB

Closing