Download LIST OF EMERGING SPECIES

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LIST OF EMERGING SPECIES OF INTEREST FOR BREEDING AND FOR STUDIES OF
GEOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF TREEBREEDEX
Responsible Josefa Fernández López (Partner nº 24)
Date: 020-05-2008
THE DEFINITION OF EMERGING SPECIES
We will identify new species of actual or potential commercial interest for network
activities for which vital genetic information is needed to prepare the scientific and
technical ground necessary to plan conservation and breeding of European forest trees.
New species
We consider as new species in the European forest genetics the species with scarce
genetic information. European trees for which there is a considerable amount of
research are Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Quercus robur, Fagus sylvatica and Pinus
pinaster, among the authoctonous species and Pseudotsuga menziesii between
introduced species. On the contrary, there is little genetic information of some species
included already in the TREEBREEDEX as target species. For example there is little
genetic information on most Middle and Oceanic broadleaves in adaptive traits and
traits of breeding interest: Prunus avium, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus.
TREEBREEDEX objectives
When selecting new species it will be useful to remind what are the
TREEBREEDEX objectives:
1)The integration of tree improvement national breeding programmes into cooperative
European programmes.
Forest trees to be considered are those used or with potential to be used in plantations
due to its economic or ecologic interest. Species which are in the opposite situation are
species with important conservation problems due to its restricted geographic area
(Abies sp), reduced population size (Taxus baccata) or severely threatened by diseases
(Ulmus sp.). Perhaps this species are not the main objective of TREEBREEDEX.
2) The identification of approaches to face the effect of climatic change on forest tree
populations.
Some of the research to be planned from TREEBREEDEX will have as objective to
increase the knowledge on responses to climatic change of European forest trees of
species. This species could be objective of breeding or not.
3) The uncontrolled movement of forest reproduction materials is one important
problem of the European forest and one of the TREEBREEDEX objectives is to prepare
information or research to improve the knowledge on adaptation, plasticity, adaptive
and phenotypic characteristics of European trees.
Research objectives directed to increase the knowledge on the geographic structure of
species, plasticity, resistances, etc. is recommended. It is specially important for
species used in plantations.
4) Species to be considered for future European research have to cover most European
countries and must be representative of the different climatic regions. The
Mediterranean trees have very little representation. The selection of new species within
TREEBREEDEX have to consider to fill this hollow.
The species already considered in the project are:
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Northern conifers also present in central and southern European mountains
(Larix europea, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris)
Two introduced conifers planted mainly in Central and Oceanic Europe
(Picea sitchensis and Pseudotsuga menziesii).
Middle and Oceanic European Broadleaves: Quercus robur, Q. petrea, Fagus
sylvatica, Prunus avium, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus.
One Mediterranean conifer: Pinus pinaster
CRITERIONS
FOR THE SELECTION OF NEW SPECIES
As consequence of the precedent statements, the decision on new species for network
activities will be made considering the following criterions 1 to 5. Additional criterion
which you consider interesting can be added.
CRITERION 1. THEIR
USE IN PLANTATIONS DUE TO ITS WOOD
ECONOMIC
POTENTIAL OR
ECOLOGIC INTEREST
Emerging species will be selected among species of actual or potential interest for
reforestation for which it is needed reproductive material for forest plantations
CRITERION 2. CLIMATE IN THE RANGE OF NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
Key species in the TREEBREEDEX must represent the whole range of European
climate, from boreal to Mediterranean.
Additional Mediterranean species could be included
CRITERION 3. SELECTING SPECIES FOR A WIDE RANGE OF SOIL AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS
A broad geographic distribution ensures a high adaptive genetic variation. Uncontrolled
movements of reproduction materials of broad distributed species could cause undesired
effects on local populations and in consequence it is important the establishment of seed
transfer rules. Their importance at trans-national level allows the coordination of
research.
Some new Broadly distributed species interesting for most countries
CRITERION 4. THE CLIMATIC CHANGE CRITERIONS
Climatic change due to global warming could be considered the main threat to the
conservation of natural and planted forests and in consequence must be considered
within objectives of TREEBREEDEX
Two opposite views:

Species in the position to cope with the climatic change due to its specific
morphological and physiological characters, e.g. drought resistance or
plasticity

The new species are interesting species anticipated to be affected by climatic
change among others.
CRITERION 5. ADDITIONAL INTRODUCED SPECIES.
D1
LIST OF EMERGING SPECIES OF INTEREST FOR BREEDING AND FOR STUDIES OF
GEOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF TREEBREEDEX
Responsible Josefa Fernández López (Partner nº 24)
QUESTIONNAIRE LIST OF NEW EMERGING SPECIES
MAY 2008-05-15
SEND TO [email protected] before 23 May 2008
PARTNER:
COUNTRY:
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ONE SPECIES CAN BE SELECTED WITH DIFFERENT CRITERION
SOME SPECIES INCLUDED AMONG KEY SPECIES IN THE TREEBREEDEX
CAN BE
CONSIDERED NEW EMERGING
PROPOSED
CRITERION
SPECIES
IN
PREFERENCE.
MAXIMUN
SPECIES
SPECIE 1
Actual or potential use in plantations
Mediterranean species
Species in position to cope with climatic
change
Species anticipated to be affected by
climatic change
Broadly distributed species interesting for
most countries
Introduced species
Other criterion 1
Other criterion 2
Other criterion 3
ORDER
OF
NUMBER
2
SPECIE 2