IUFRO Breeding theory and progeny testing

A IUFRO WP 2.09.01 Seed Orchards has been formed and this is its first "real" meeting
http://www-genfys.slu.se/staff/dagl/Korea09/
Seed orchard conference
The main purpose of "breeding theory and progeny testing" is to create options for seed orchards and now is the time to come and see how to connect this two linearly depending WPs!

This is in a way a follow up on a meeting where the IUFRO WP was constituted
http://www-genfys.slu.se/staff/dagl/Umea07/Umea07.htm
Seed orchard conference

The Australasian Forest Genetics Conference: breeding for wood quality will be held in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia between the 11 and 14 of April 2007. This conference will be in conjunction with the meetings of the Australasian Forestry Research Working Group 1 (Genetics) (RWG1 17th Meeting) and the IUFRO Southern pine working group (2.02.20). For registration information visit the website.

The CSIR invites you to participate in their annual international short course on Tree Breeding in South Africa.

The year 2006 will see the 13^th in a series of international courses in tree breeding hosted by the CSIR. This course will bring together tree breeders, geneticists, managers and foresters from around the world who are interested in sharing and expanding their knowledge of tree breeding. The course combines theoretical principles with the practical and empowers participants to apply the knowledge to breeding programmes at all levels of development and implementation. Examples from Eucalyptus and Pinus breeding programmes will be discussed.

IUFRO Division 2 Joint Conference: Low input breeding and genetic conservation of forest tree species will be held on October 9-13, 2006, Antalya, Turkey.

Small scale tree domestication, tree breeding and genetic conservation face different challenges compared to large and highly developed programs. There are economical and logistical constrains particularly in developing countries. Low input domestication of trees and shrubs for farmers is being promoted by World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF).

• In general, there is not sufficient financial support or land to develop rigorous and large-scale tree breeding programs for many forest tree species.
• The scale [and cost] of the improvement program should be customized to the [financial and planting] capacities of the end users, or the cultivation range of the species.
• Most countries such as Mediterranean basin countries, China, Korea, Africa and India have to deal with multiple species.
• Some countries have forest land with steep slops and low fertility land. Progeny testing is costly and physically challenging.
• In most instances, conventional tree breeding is not appropriate.
• Conservation of genetic resources of minor species may require different strategy compared to widely used forest tree species.

To address problems outlined above, an international meeting is planned in October 2006, in Antalya, Turkey. The topics may include the following:

PLANTPLAN Genetics Pty Ltd and the Southern Tree Breeding Association are pleased to invite you to a course on “Progeny Trial Analysis with ASReml�.
Aim
The course is aimed at tree breeders and analysts who undertake forest progeny trial analysis, with an emphasis on estimation of variances and correlations, and breeding value prediction using the ASReml software. The course will cover the basics of linear models, breeding values and the use of ASReml. It will also cover advanced models for spatial analysis, multi-variate analysis, longitudinal analysis and across-site analysis.
Presenters
The course will be presented by experts in the field of forest quantitative genetic analysis. Dr Greg Dutkowski and Dr Richard Kerr have extensive experience in the use and teaching of ASReml for progeny trial analysis and breeding value prediction. Greg’s doctoral work on spatial analysis was supervised by the author of ASReml, Dr Arthur Gilmour. Dr Richard Kerr has many years experience in quantitative genetics of trees and animals and was a primary developer of the TREEPLAN® genetic evaluation system for trees, to which Greg and Luis Apiolaza also contributed.
Details
The course is planned to be held at the Woolstore Hotel, Macquarie St, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, from 29th -31st March 2006, Cost to attend the course will be $250 for members of the Southern Tree Breeding Association and clients of PLANTPLAN Genetics, or $500 for other participants. The fee will cover facilities, refreshments and lunch. Attendees should provide their own laptop computers and should pre-install the ASReml software. Course material are planned to be made available before the course for preparatory work, and attendees are encouraged to bring along their own sample data for exploration.
Registration
As the number of participants will be limited, an early expression of interest in attending the course should be sent to Peter Cunningham +61-8-87230688, pcunningham@stba.com.au. A non-refundable deposit of 50% will be required by March 15th 2006, with final payment at the course.

Meeting the Needs of a Growing World through Poplar and Willow Science: Combining Traditional and Novel Approaches in the Genomic Era, Nanjing, China, Hosted and Organised by Nanjing Forestry University & IUFRO Poplar and Willow Working Unit (2.08.04)
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