Forestry Genomics

Most Canadians don’t spend much time thinking about trees. Just as fish don’t realize they live in water, we are so immersed in a forest-rich country that we simply take our trees for granted.

The complacency may be understandable; after all, forests and other woodlands cover about 46 percent of Canada’s land mass, or some 400 million hectares. Canada’s forests account for up to 10 percent of the world’s forest cover, about 30 percent of all boreal forest, more than 25 percent of temperate rainforest and 25 percent of global wetlands. And the forestry industry is an integral part of our nation’s economy, generating over $81 billion in 2004.

However, the pressure on Canada’s forest resources is increasing as demand rises and global climate change makes itself felt, bringing the threat of more frequent drought and higher temperatures. A key challenge is to defend forest health against insect pests, such as the mountain pine beetle. In 2004, more forest was destroyed by insects than was lost to fire or harvested by industry. And because of climate change, infestations are expected to increase.

In addition, Canada’s forests are often in remote areas, and their location makes harvesting and transportation more difficult and costly. The result is a scarcity of resources in many parts of the country, along with a need to think about trees differently.

According to Anne-Christine Bonfils, Research Coordinator at the Canadian Forest Service, "With shortages of accessible resources, there is a need to produce more forest products from less land. One way to do that is by planting the best trees possible."

How do you grow a better tree? The answer is through breeding. Each year Canada plants millions of seedlings, and more and more of them come from tree breeding programs. Now, using genomics, scientists are developing new tools to help with tree breeding. One of these is the Treenomix project, which is exploring new approaches to forestry. The $11 million undertaking is funded by Genome Canada and Genome British Columbia. Leading it are Drs. Jörg Bohlmann and Kermit Ritland, both of the University of British Columbia.

Treenomix researchers are examining how genes and proteins in spruce and poplar function at different stages of wood development and under different circumstances — for example, during an insect attack or drought. The findings enable them to pinpoint the genetic areas associated with desirable traits such as insect resistance, stress tolerance and wood formation.

Bonfils explains, "One of the great advantages of this work is that we can identify genetic 'markers' (areas on a chromosome connected to particular traits) without having to wait until maturity for those traits to show up. This considerably shortens the time needed to identify the best individuals."

"What’s so exciting about this project is that we are working with existing breeding programs," says Dr. Bohlmann. "There’s no need for genetic modification. It’s really about developing and applying new knowledge and new technologies, using tried and trued methods."

Aside from obvious benefits to the forestry industry, the knowledge and tools developed through the Treenomix project could yield significant environmental benefits. For example, trees can soak up excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and provide the biomass necessary for biofuels such as ethanol.

Working with partners in Sweden and the United States, the Treenomix project has already produced a genome map of the poplar tree and uncovered new information on this species’ defence systems against insects. Research results are being shared with the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, the forestry industry and the public.

As new stresses raise uncertainties about the future, genomics offers important information and technologies to ensure the long-term sustainability of Canada’s forests. Thanks to Treenomix and similar projects, Canadians will continue to see both the forest and the trees for generations to come.