This book is the first comprehensive compilation of the most up-to-date research in the genomics, transcriptomics, and breeding of pine species across Europe, North America, and Australia. With chapters on the state of the reference genomes, transposon function, genome-wide diversity, functional genomics, genomics of disease resistance, genomics of abiotic stress, and genomic selection, this book is a must-read for scientists, breeders, and students of plant genomics. The book contains 12 chapters over 300 pages authored by a group of world-renowned scientists in the field of pine genomics. Pines (Pinus) are the world’s most economically important forest tree species. The recent genome sequencing of several important pine species has paved the way for understanding their complex biology and helps future management and breeding efforts.

Forest trees cover one third of the global land surface, constitute many ecosystems, and play a pivotal role in the world economy. This volume details Populus trees, pines, Fagaceae trees, eucalypts, spruces, Douglas fir and black walnut, and offers a first-ever detailed review of Cryptomeria japonica. It thoroughly discusses innovative strategies to address the inherent problems of genome analysis of tree species.

Developments in genomics and biotechnology are opening up new avenues for accelerating the domestication of forest trees in a climate change-driven world. This book presents an authoritative update of forest tree biotechnology and genomics methodologies, procedures and accomplishments, from basic biological science to applications in forestry and related sciences. It gives expert evaluation of achievements and discussion about the impact that novel forest biotechnological and genomics approaches are having on traditional breeding for improvement of forest tree species and production of forest-based products. It also describes the legal and regulatory aspects of forest biotechnology, with an emphasis on biosafety. It is a reference for forest biologists, including basic and applied scientists involved in forest tree breeding and biotechnology, bioenergy research, biomaterial product development. It is a comprehensive text for graduate-level students in the areas of Plant Biology and Forest Genetics, Silviculture and Agroforestry, and Bioenergy Science and Technology.

With contributions by internationally reputed researchers in the field, this book presents the implications of the genomic revolution for conifers—promoting a better understanding of the evolution of these organisms as well as new knowledge about the molecular basis of quantitative trait variation. Both of these discoveries play important roles in their domestication. Topics include cytogenetics, patterns of nucleotide diversity, genetic mapping, integration of molecular markers in breeding, transcriptomics, advances in proteomics and metabolomics in gymnosperms, and economic importance.

In this timely new 2-volume treatise, experts from around the world have banded together to produce a first-of-its-kind synopsis of the exciting and fast moving field of plant evolutionary genomics. In Volume I of Plant Genome Diversity, an update is provided on what we have learned from plant genome sequencing projects. This is followed by more focused chapters on the various genomic “residents” of plant genomes, including transposable elements, centromeres, small RNAs, and the evolutionary dynamics of genes and non-coding sequences. Attention is drawn to advances in our understanding of plant mitochondrial and plastid genomes, as well as the significance of duplication in genic evolution and the non-independent evolution among sequences in plant genomes. Finally, Volume I provides an introduction to the vibrant new frontier of plant epigenomics, describing the current state of our knowledge and the evolutionary implications of the epigenomic landscape.

Revised edition of: Introduction to molecular ecology / Trevor J. C. Beebee, Graham Rowe. 2008. 2nd ed.

Pinus banksiana. Reviews its characteristics including taxonomy, range and habitat, biogeography, reproduction, genetics and breeding, and effects of ionizing radiation.

The First Asia --- Pacific Conference on Agricultural Biotechnology was held in Beijing, China on 20-24, August, 1992. Over half the population in the world is in the Asian and Pacific Region. With an increasing population and decreasing farming lands, it is important to develop agricultural biotechnology for improvement of the productivity, profitability and stability of the farming system. The Conference's main objectives were to bring together scientists working in different fields of agricultural biotechnology to stimulate discussion on this important process and to have an appraisal of the most recent studies concerning genetic manipulation of plants, plant cell and tissue culture, plant gene regulation, plant-microbe interaction, animal biotechnology etc. The Conference was attended by 391 scientists from different countries and regions. This volume presents the contributions of the lectures and a selected number of posters, which are an up-to-date account of the state of knowledge on agricultural biotechnology. The book provides a valuable reference source not only for specialists in agricultural biotechnology, but also for researchers working on related aspects of agronomy, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology and animal sciences. It is with great pleasure to acknowledge the contributions of the authors in assuring the prompt publication of this volume. We would also extend our sincere thank to Kluwer Academic Publishers for the publication of these proceedings.

In nature, radiata pine is very localised and an obscure tree species despite the romantic character of much of its natural habitat. That obscure status and the lack of any reputation as a virgin timber slowed its due recognition as a commercial crop. Nevertheless, it has become a major plantation forest crop internationally. It has become the pre-eminent commercial forest species in New Zealand, Chile and Australia, with important plantings in some other countries. It consequently features prominently in the international trade in forest products, in addition to its importance in domestic markets of grower countries. Very fast growth, considerable site tolerances, ease of raising in nurseries and transplanting, and ease of processing and using its wood for a range of products and purposes, have made it the utility softwood of choice almost everywhere it can be grown satisfactorily. Abundant genetic variation and its amenability to other management inputs created special opportunities for its domestication. The story of its domestication forms a classic case history in the development of modern commercial forestry, with trailblazing in both genetic improvement and plantation management; this inevitably meant a learning process that provided instructive lessons, especially for tree breeders dealing with some other species. Paradoxically, the plantation monocultures have played and can continue to play an important role in protecting natural forests and other forms of biodiversity. Given the attractions of growing radiata pine, there were inevitably cases of overreach in planting it, with lessons to be learnt. Economic globalisation has meant globalisation of pests and disease organisms, and the scale on which radiata pine is grown has meant is has been the focus of various biotic alarms, none of which have proved catastrophic. Temptations, remain, however, to pay less than due attention to some aspects of risk management. The chapter structure of the book is based on historical periods, beginning long before any important human influences, and ending with a look into what the future might hold for the species and its role in human and ecological sustainability. Almost throughout, there has been complex interplay between the technical aspects, local social and economic factors, various types of institution, the enthusiasm and drive of some very influential individuals, and tides of economic ideology, threads that needed to be woven together to do the story justice.