Setting the stage for genomic selection in birch in a changing climate

Two major changes are profoundly reshaping plant and animal breeding: the first one is genomic selection and the second global climate change (GCC).

Both imply a reorganization of breeding programs and require a better knowledge on population genetic structure, the scale of local adaptation and the amount of genetic load. GCC will also increase uncertainty as to breeding goals. More attention will thereby be paid to fitness related traits in breeding programs.

Finally, breeding programs are a great source of information on the response of species to GCC, especially in forest trees where breeding programs are in their infancy, and they should play a most prominent part in efforts to monitor genetic diversity.

The aim of the present project is to leverage available and new genomic data to prepare the Betula pendula breeding program for these new challenges and establish a solid baseline for monitoring of genetic diversity in birch. To that end we will collect phenotypic and genomic data along three clines, one in Sweden and two in Russia.

The Swedish cline will extend available data and provide information on population genetic structure, local adaptation and genetic load.

The two Russian clines will allow ascertainment of the results found in Sweden and help infer the origin of the current Swedish birch populations.

They will therefore help us understand how populations reacted to past climatic fluctuations and assess the extent of convergent evolution.