Conference: Genomics of Forest and Ecosystem Health in the Fagaceae

The Genomics of Forest and Ecosystem Health in the Fagaceae (Beech Family) conference took place from November 10 - 13, 2009 at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and Radisson Hotel at Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. The conference provided:
  • a forum for sharing recently developed genomic resources and tools
  • a venue for scientists and researchers to identify collaborative opportunities to drive the next generation of studies
  • insight on how to confront forest health issues facing members of the Fagaceae
  • enhanced opportunity for graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and young investigators to participate in an international forum
  • professional continuing education credit hours from the Society of American Foresters
Program
Program Booklet with abstracts for talks
Opening
Conference Opening Remarks and Announcements Nick Wheeler, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, NC State University
Keynote
The Fagaceae Genome Project: Opportunities and Challenges for the Restoration of the American Chestnut Ron Sederoff, NC Biotechnology Center, NC State University
Session 1-A: Genomic Tools for the Fagaceae
The Genomic Tool Development for the Fagaceae Project John Carlson, John Schatz Center for Tree Molecular Genetics, Pennsylvania State University
Analysis of the Transcriptome of the Fagaceae species Abdelali Barakat, Pennsylvania State University
Physical mapping of Chestnut genome: A genome resource of Fagaceae and other tree species Guang-Chen Fang, Clemson University
Annotated EST-based SSR and SNP Genetic Maps for Chinese Chestnut Thomas Kubisiak, USDA Forest Service
Functional Analyses and Software Additions to the Fagaceae Genomics Web Chun-Huai Cheng, Clemson University
De Novo Sequencing of Complex Genomes: How are we doing? Tim Harkins, Roche/454 Sequencing
Session 1-B: Genomic Tools for the Fagaceae
Development of genomic resources in oak to study the structure, variability, evolution and functioning of its genome Christophe Plomion, INRA, France
Overview and recent development of genetic and genomic studies in Castanea sativa from Europe Fiorella Villani, CNR-IBAF, Italy
Construction and characterization of a genomic BAC library for Quercus robur Patricia Faivre-Rampant, INRA / URGV, France
Immediate application of FGP tools for detection of relatedness and verification of identity in 69 Chinese chestnut cultivars Mark Coggeshall, University of Missouri at Columbia
Session 2-A: Comparative Genomics of the Fagaceae
Comparative genetic mapping in European Oaks Catherine Bodenes, INRA, France
Comparative analysis of the chloroplast genomes of Fagaceae species G.G. Vendramin, University of Florence, Italy
An updated phylogeny for the Fagaceae: insights from nuclear sequence data Paul Manos, Duke University
A comparative genome analysis of Chinese Chestnut to model plant species and Fagaceae family Margaret Staton, Clemson University
Keynote
What can we learn from genomics about the evolution and ecology of oaks? Antoine Kremer, INRA, France
Session 3-A: Application of Genomic Tools in Ecological and Population Genetics
Interaction between gene flow and selection in hybridizing oak species Pauline Garnier-Gere, INRA, France
Assessment of adaptive genetic variation in oaks Oliver Gailing, Michigan Technological University
Searching for Ecologically Important Genes in “Minor” Oak Species: The Role of Genomic Scans and Haplotype Inferences Pablo Goicoechea, Neiker-Tecnalia, Spain
Genetic determinism of Water Use Efficiency in pedonculate oak Oliver Brendel, INRA, France
Session 3-B: Application of Genomic Tools in Ecological and Population Genetics
Ecological, evolutionary, and population genetic processes in a California endemic oak species, Quercus lobata Victoria Sork, INRA, France
Candidate gene variation along an altitudinal gradient in Fagus sylvatica. Hadrien Lalague, INRA, France
Chloroplast DNA of American beech and northern red oak extracted and sequenced from Holocene lake sediments Jason McLachlan, University of Notre Dame
Genetic variation and hybridization in a species-rich oak (Quercus spp.) community in Romania Reiner Finkeldey, Goettingen University, Germany
Session 4-A: Application of Genomic Tools to Forest Health Issues
Breeding, genetics and genomics of hazelnut Shawn Mehlenbacher, Oregon State University
Integrating Phylogenetics and Geographic Information System Analyses to Assess the Potential Ecosystem Impacts of Sudden Oak Death Kevin Potter, NC State University
Understanding Disease Resistance to Phytophthora cinammomi in Castanea sp. Rita Costa, INRB / INIA, Portugal
AFLP and SSR based linkage maps and QTL analysis for resistance to the beech scale insect in two American beech full sib families David Carey, USDA Forest Service
Session 4-B: Application of Genomic Tools to Forest Health Issues
American chestnut somatic embryogenesis and gene transfer: powerful tools for genomics-based forest health applications Scott Merkle, University of Georgia
Testing gene function in American chestnut (Castanea dentata) through genetic engineering William Powell, State University of New York
How oak responds to long term drought stress – A wholistic approach Nadine Schulz, Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
Phylogenomics of the PR-10 gene family within the Fagaceae Josh Herr, Pennsylvania State University
Session 5-A: Looking Ahead
Biotechnological Tools for Accelerating Species Restoration Dana Nelson, USDA Forest Service
ForesTrak – EU project to discuss vision for forest genomics in the future Antoine Kremer, INRA, France
The National Science Foundation and International Collaborations Graham Harrison, National Science Foundation, USA
This conference was made possible by funding and inkind contributions from the following organizations:
  • ArborGen, LLC
  • Roche and 454 Sequencing
  • The Schatz Center for Tree Molecular Genetics
  • European Union’s Evoltree Project
  • Institute of Forest Biotechnology
  • North Carolina Biotechnology Center
  • North Carolina State University