Investigating variation of disease resistance and wood formation genes in willow
Aude Perdereau
Supervisor:
Willow, disease resistance, wood formation
Willow has the potential of greater than carbon neutral energy production and as such would be efficient as part of a green-house-gas reduction strategy for Ireland. Very little is known about the genetic diversity of willow in Ireland and nothing is known about gene diversity within coding regions of the genome. This project will provide targeted information on diversity in genes involved in disease resistance and wood formation. The project will compare data from neutral markers, such as AFLP, with those of adaptive significance, namely genes coding for traits such as disease resistance. Data on gene diversity will aid decision making in selecting species and strains of willow for future breeding and growing.