An international team of scientists, including seven from the University of British Columbia, has completed the world’s first physical map and sequencing of a tree genome — and the third plant ever sequenced — providing important insight into the future development of alternative fuels, forest health and wood quality.
The findings — a draft genome sequence of black cottonwood, a species of poplar trees (Populus trichocarpa) — will be featured on the cover of the Sept. 15 issue of the journal Science.
“In tree biology, this is equivalent to sequencing the first human genome,” says Assoc. Prof. Joerg Bohlmann of UBC’s Michael Smith Laboratories and co-author of the paper.
Scientists have sequenced the genome of only two other plants. Arabidopsis, a small flowering plant of the mustard family, was the first to be sequenced in 2000. The genome of rice was sequenced two years ago.
“The origins of plant breeding for agriculture date back several thousand years. By comparison, the breeding of trees is still at a very early stage,” says Bohlmann, who is also jointly-appointed by the Depts. of Botany and Forest Sciences and is an associate in the Wine Research Centre.
“By comparing the genome of the poplar tree to other plants, we hope to identify the genes for traits of interest — such as adaptation to the environment, lignin and cellulose content, or longevity — to support ways to breed trees for uses in ecologically and economically sustainable forestry.”
“Poplar was chosen for genome sequencing for its relatively compact genome size, at about 40 times smaller than the genome of pine, and its use as a model tree species,” says co-author and UBC Botany Prof. Carl Douglas.
“It also has economically important traits such as rapid growth rate, stature, and wood properties suited for paper and solid wood products. Now the complete genome will further advance our knowledge in how to fine-tune plants to produce higher quality wood products, and opens the door to research in areas such as biologically based substitutes for gasoline and other fossil fuels.”
The publication is the result of a four-year research project, led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute in California, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. A total of 34 institutions from around the world participated with major contributions and expertise from UBC, Genome Canada and Genome British Columbia, the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver; Umeå University, Sweden; and Ghent University, Belgium.
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Background
UBC Treenomix Project
The UBC team of researchers who contributed to the poplar genome sequencing is part of the Treenomix project, Canada’s first large-scale forestry genome project.
The initial $10.8 million, four-year project (2001-05) was co-directed by Joerg Bohlmann, Carl Douglas, Brian Ellis (Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Michael Smith Laboratories) and Kermit Ritland (Faculty of Forestry) in collaboration with the Genome Sciences Centre’s Marco Marra, Steven Jones, Jaquie Schein and Rob Holt.
In 2006, the Treenomix Conifer Forest Health Project was renewed with $15 million in funding, co-directed by Bohlmann and Ritland.
The Treenomix project involves sequencing the genome of poplar and spruce to identify the genetic blueprints that determines features such as resistance against forest insect pests, adaptation to climate change, and wood quality.
Genome British Columbia
The sequencing of the poplar genome was partially funded by Genome British Columbia, Genome Canada and the Province of B.C. with a total investment of $10.8 million. The partnership involved scientists at UBC and at the BC Cancer Agency Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, which jointly implemented vital DNA mapping, sequencing, and fingerprinting strategies.
Genome BC is a research organization that invests in and manages large-scale genomics and proteomics research projects and science and technology platforms focused on areas of strategic importance such as human health, forestry, fisheries, ethics, agriculture and the environment. Working collaboratively with all levels of government, universities and industry, Genome BC is the catalyst for a vibrant, genomics-driven life sciences cluster with far reaching social and economic benefits for the province and Canada.
