News

Two success stories from the Trees4Future Transnational Access scheme were showcased at the third Trees4Future annual meeting, held in Tulln, Austria in November 2014.

Researchers Azahara Barra Jiménez and Ivo Pavia demonstrated the results from their successful Trees4Future Transnational Access visits, and how their work has since progressed. Collaboration with the facilities and personnel has continued, leading to several publications.

Azahara, from IMIDRA, Spain, presented the results of her work on the vitrification and genetic stability of Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) somatic embryos. She travelled to Metla’s Punkaharju Unit in Finland, to use their vegetative propagation facilities in February to June 2013.

Ivo, from the Centro de Genómica e Biotecnologia, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes, Portugal, presented the results of his investigations into the Genetic diversity of native Pinus sylvestris L. of Gerês accessed by SSR markers (MICROSAT – PSYLV). He visited BFW’s Department of Genetics molecular laboratory facilities in Austria for a month in 2012.

The Trees4Future Transnational Access programme offers researchers free access to 28 state-of-the-art forest research structures and facilities across Europe. The facilities on offer focus on genetics, genomics and tree breeding, (eco-)physiology and biotechnology, wood science and technology and modelling/data analysis. They include genetic databanks, biobanks, laboratories, models and decision-support systems. Support is available for travel and subsistence expenses.

More information

Azahara’s presentation: Vitrification and genetic stability of Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) somatic embryos

Ivo’s presentation: Genetic diversity of native Pinus sylvestris L. of Gerês accessed by SSR markers (MICROSAT – PSYLV)

Trees4Future Third Annual Meeting

Publications

Barra-Jiménez, A., Aronen, T., Ruiz‐Galea, M., Celestino, C., Alegre, J., Toribio, M. (2013, October) Cryopreservation of embryogenic lines of Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.). X Meeting of the Spanish Society of In Vitro Plant Tissue Culture. Zaragoza (Spain)

Barra-Jiménez, A., Ruiz‐Galea, M., Celestino, C., Alegre, J., Toribio, M. (2014, September) An overview of the current achievements in Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) somatic embryogenesis. III International Conference of the IUFRO Working Party 2.09.02. Vitoria‐Gasteiz (Spain)

Barra‐Jiménez, A., Aronen, T., Alegre, J., Toribio, M. Cryopreservation of embryogenic tissues from mature Quercus ilex (L.) trees. Cryobiology (MS accepted with modifications).

Barra-Jiménez, A., Aronen, T., Toribio, M. Genetic stability of somatic embryogenic cultures and regenerated plantlets from mature holm oak trees (Quercus ilex L.). (MS in preparation).

Pavia, I.; Mengl, M.; Gaspar, M.J.; Carvalho, A.; Heinze, B.; Lima-Brito, J. (2014). Preliminary evidence of two potential native populations of Pinus sylvestris L. in Portugal based on nuclear and choloroplastidial SSR markers. Austrian Journal of Forest Research 131(1): 1-22

Pavia, Ivo; Mengl, Michael; Gaspar, Maria J; Carvalho, Ana; Slunsky, Renate; Jahn, Daniela; Lima-Brito, José; Heinze, Berthold. Evidence of the existence of native Pinus sylvestris L. populations in Serra do Gerês by nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite markers ,XXXVIII Jornadas Portuguesas de Genética, Porto, 2013

Pavia, Ivo; Mengl, Michael; Gaspar, Maria J; Xavier, Maria; Slunsky, Renate; Jahn, Daniela; Lima-Brito, José; Heinze, Berthold. Chloroplast microsatellite markers to infer about the probable existence of native Pinus sylvestris population in Portugal", V Jornadas Nacionais de Genética e Biotecnologia, Vila Real, 2013

Pavia, Ivo; Mengl, Michael; Gaspar, Maria J; Carvalho, Ana; Lima-Brito, José; Heinze, Berthold. Combining Chloroplast and Nuclear Microsatellite Markers to assess two probable native P. sylvestris populations in Portugal,7TH EPSO CONFERENCE: PLANTS FOR A GREENING ECONOMY, Porto Heli, 2013

Pavia, Ivo. Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of Pinus sylvestris L. populations. MSc Dissertation in Technological and Comparative Molecular Genetics, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 2013

Photo: Rach Colling, EFI