IUFRO Breeding theory and progeny testing

What

The unit on Breeding theory and progeny testing was formed in 1986 by a merger of two long-standing and active units, S2.04-02 Breeding theory and S2.04-03 Progeny testing, in recognition of the common interests of the two groups. The unit is interested in research leading to the most effective methods for developing selection criteria and the prediction of genetic gain from selection, selection index theory, the estimation of environmental and genetic effects, use of marker information, the monitoring of genetic diversity in seed orchards, and progeny variability requirements for future changes in the environment.

Who

Starting in July 2005 the coordinators of the unit are:

Luis A. Apiolaza, Coordinator

Luis in Thailand.

I was born in Chile; grew up in Chile, Argentina and Venezuela; studied forestry in Chile and did my Ph.D. at Massey University in New Zealand. I worked as Research Forester for the Chilean Tree Improvement Cooperative, Leader of Breeding Strategies for the CRC for Sustainable Production Forestry in Tasmania, Principal Forest Biometrician for Forestry Tasmania and now I am Senior Lecturer of Tree Breeding and Forest Genetics, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

My research interests fall in to the 'quantitative forestry' area, including multivariate genetic evaluation, longitudinal data analysis, design and simulation of breeding strategies, development of economic breeding objectives, genetics of wood properties and a big etc.

I am 'almost famous' in the Asia Pacific for maintaining the ASReml cookbook. Some more information on my personal site and blog. I am the webmaster of this site and here are some details of its implementation.

Satish Kumar, Deputy Coordinator

Satish Kumar in Rotorua.

I have a B. Sc. (Agriculture) with First Class Honours, Agricultural University, Hisar, India; a M.Sc. (Applied Statistics), University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India and a Ph.D. (Forest Genetics and Breeding), Massey University, New Zealand.

My first job at the Department of Tree Improvement, University of Horticulture and Forestry, India, involved design and analysis of field experiments, and teaching courses in Statistics to undergraduate students. I shifted to New Zealand in 1994 and was employed as a Statistical Geneticist at the New Zealand Forest Research Institute. After completing my Ph.D. in 1999, I went for a Post-doc at INRA Station de Recherches Forestieres, Pierroton, Cestas, France. For the last five-and-half years, I have been working as a Quantitative Geneticist at the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited, Rotorua.

My research interests include: Design and analysis for progeny trials; Genetic Parameter Estimation; Design and evaluation of breeding strategies; Breeding for wood properties; Design and analysis of Marker - QTL linkage detection and Linkage Disequilibrium studies and Applied Molecular Breeding.

Milan Lstiburek, Deputy Coordinator

I was born in Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic), known best for good beer, ice hockey and pretty women. I have got a general forestry education with undergraduate degrees from the Czech University of Agriculture and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. I worked for the Forestry Research Institute in Prague for some time. After completing my Ph.D. at NC State in 2005, I returned to the Czech Republic and work as a lecturer at the Czech University of Agriculture. My research is focused on breeding theory. Updated research outcome and more info is listed on my website. My wife and I live in a small village in the western part of the Czech Republic.