Plant and Animal Genome XXIV Conference

January 08 - 13, 2016

3533

Graft Genetics and Genomics

This workshop will focus on graft genetics and genomics, an important subject which has both theoretical and applied impacts on many agricultural important crops. A grafted plant is usually composed of two genetically distinct parts: scion and rootstock. The scion and rootstock are joined together through a graft junction forming a composite plant. Grafting is an ancient agricultural practice and has been widely used for many centuries in the propagation and production of many vegetable and fruit species. Important grafting applications include using rootstocks for clonal propagation of scions with rooting difficulty, control of plant architecture, induction of precocious flowering, enhancement of disease and pest resistance and soil adaptation. While significant practical knowledge has been accumulated for producing grafted plants in many species, we still do not fully understand how scions and rootstocks interact with each other to produce successful graft plants at the molecular, genomic and genetic levels. This workshop will provide a platform for sharing the latest findings in and promoting further exploration of this important, yet largely untouched, research area.