Working Party on Genetic Resources (WP-GEN)
The Working Party on Genetic Resources (WP-GEN) connects global experts to advance the conservation, improvement, and sustainable use of genetic resources in poplar, willow, and other fast-growing trees. It focuses on taxonomy, breeding, and resilience to environmental threats, supporting adaptation and collaboration through research and knowledge exchange.
Action plan 2025-2026
- Update the database of poplar and willow experts and expand it to include institutions and specialists working on other fast-growing tree (FGT) species.
- Revise and maintain the documentation required for clone registration.
- Develop and curate a comprehensive database of genetic breeding programs for FGT species.
- Organize a webinar to address the limitations and challenges of genomic selection in FGT species, highlighting the need for specialized expertise to strengthen breeding programs.
Key activities and outputs
Development and updated of databases, highlight sheets, webinars, surveys.
Networking and collaboration
Foster knowledge exchange within the FGT community on taxonomy, genetics, breeding, and pest and disease issues.
Leadership
Chairperson
Raju Soolanayakanahally
Agriculture and Agrifood, Saskatchewan, Canada
email:
[email protected]
Vice-Chairpersons by Area of Work:
- Julia Kuzovkina
University of Connecticut, USA.
[email protected]. - Sara Bergante
CREA, Italy,
[email protected].
- Eduardo Pablo Cappa
INTA, Argentina,
[email protected]. - William Macalpine
Rothamsted Research, UK,
william.macalpine@
rothamsted.ac.uk.
- Mauritz Ramstedt
Sweden
[email protected]. - Raju Soolanayakanahally
Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada, Canada.
raju.soolanayakanahally@
agr.gc.ca. - Ian McIvor
Plant and Food Research, New Zealand.
ian.mcivor@
plantandfood.co.nz. - Sasa Orlovič
University of Nivi Sad, Serbia.
[email protected].
- Laura RossoCREA, Italy
[email protected]