Molecular Selection Tools in Adaptive Phenology of Populus trichocarpa Breeds for the Nordic-Baltic Region

Abstract

Fast-growing poplars have the potential to improve the biomass supply required for the transition to bio-based economies in the Nordic-Baltic region. As early successional trees, poplars are efficient biomass producers in relatively short rotations, when high-yielding, climate-adapted clones are available for commercial deployment. In Sweden, poplar breeding focused on adapting Populus trichocarpa to the Swedish climate by crossing parents from distant populations along latitudinal and maritime-continental clines on the Pacific coast of North America. Clonal trials with progeny from these crosses were established in the Nordic-Baltic region. Elite individuals in terms of stemwood production were used to identify candidate genes for adaptation to local photoperiod and climate in the region. The next breeding cycle utilized the elite individuals in the clonal trials to generate a training population. Genomic selection of the progeny in the training population will facilitate early selection of poplar clones for commercial deployment in the Nordic-Baltic region and reduce the time required for successive plant breeding cycles.

Fertilization of poplar plantations with dried sludge : a demonstration trial in Hillebola - central Sweden

“…The poplar plantation is located in the coniferous-dominated landscape outside Hillebola, central Sweden (blocks 1 and 2 -60.351975 N, 17.690794 E; blocks 3 and 4 -60.349752 N, 17.667424 E). The area of set-aside arable land, approximately 25-30 hectares, was planted in 2016 with Populus trichocarpa clones adapted to northern European climate by breeding (Adler et al, 2023;Adler et al, 2021;Apuli et al, 2021;Karacic et al, 2021;Richards et al, 2020;Ronnberg-Wastljung et al, 2022;Vico et al, 2021). The parcel with blocks 1 and 2 was previously grown with food and fodder crops, while blocks 3 and 4 were established on grassland (Figure 2).…”