Comparative Genomics of Key Forest and Fruit Tree Species: A Strategic Path to Forest Health Improvement

With the advent of molecular marker based technologies in plant breeding, researchers in fruit and forest tree genetics have explored their application to genetically map and genotype key tree species genomes.  Much of the evolution of these technologies within these tree species has gone on in parallel between the forest and fruit tree genetics research communities with little exploration of the interface between the two.  Culminating with the completion of genomics resource development in key forest and fruit tree species, we are making significant advances in gene discovery and our knowledge of the gene networks underlying characters of importance for tree sustainability and improvement.  Because there are a number of common breeding targets for forest and fruit trees, comparatively merging the genetics and genome sciences of each provides opportunities to significantly build our understanding of the fundamental biology of tree species while implementing and exploring marker assisted breeding approaches for tree improvement.  Here we present comparative genomics analyses of mapped genomic regions for resistance to specific pathogens (Cryphonectria parasitica and Phytophthora cinnamomi), as well as, phenological trait (bloom date/bud break) containing intervals in fruit (peach and apricot) and forest (chestnut and oak) tree species.  Potentially important candidate genes and gene networks will be presented and progress in testing these genes in selection schemes directed at improving our tree resources will be discussed.