Forest Genomics
Forest Genomics
Discovering the genetic basis for phenotypic variation.
The Forest Genomics Lab group at the University of Florida studies genetic traits at the genomic, cellular, and molecular levels. Although the group is made up of three independent and distinct labs, headed by John Davis, Gary Peter, and Matias Kirst, the collaborations between the labs are strong.
Biofuels are fuels such as ethanol that are produced from plant biomass. They can decrease our dependence on fossil fuels and at the same time reduce our total greenhouse gas emissions. Ethanol produced from tree biomass is a potential source of renewable energy but, to make it competitive with oil, improvements in the conversion process must be made. Our goal is to improve the production of bioethanol by studying the physical and chemical changes that occur during production and to study the effects of wood composition on the conversion process.
CO2 + sunlight
Carbon Sequestration is the removal and long term storage of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. Our goal is to increase the biomass of roots (carbon sinks) by increasing the partitioning of carbon into chemical forms that are resistant to degradation. Quantitative and pathway targeted approaches are used.
Phenotypic Variation is the physical variation in a trait, such as lignin content, that is due to genotypic and environmental interactions. Phenotypic variation has a major impact on forests and forest products. Identifying the underlying causes (the genes and alleles) of this natural variation could provide useful tools for tree improvement programs. Genetically complex traits, such as disease resistance and wood quality are being studied.
