Globally ahead: We develop methods and reference data to determine the species and source of timber by gene tests– an important action against illegal logging and a considerable contribution to sustainable forest management. We strive for forests, which are managed legally and sustainably. Forests shall be productive and stable to resist natural and anthropogenic disturbances.
By means of a continually developed Germany-wide network of over five hundred field trials, we test on a long-term basis the growth potential and resistance of differing seed sources of the predominant tree species in Germany. Under controlled conditions in greenhouses and climate chambers we additionally test different resistance characteristics of affected tree species against novel pathogenic agents.
Generation cycles of trees vary from 5 to 40 years depending on the species. Their genetic improvement takes much longer than in the mostly annual plants cultivated in agriculture. There are therefore no private investors in this field. However, breeding is a means by which growth potential and resistance as well wood quality can be raised considerably in trees. Jointly with the research institutions of the Länder we carry out publically funded improvement programs. Furthermore, we investigate the potentials and risks of implementing biotechnology in trees.
Our field trials and tree breeding research has required long range continuity. We shall be engaged in this research also in future. We develop standards for subsequent application in other research institutions. The results from provenance trials, which also consider aspects of climate change, lead into recommendations for politicians, funding guidelines, and silvicultural management recommendations. Some of the field trials are being used for the approval of high value reproductive material of the category” Tested“. The basic material required to produce reproductive material, is provided to nurseries and in-vitro-labs for marketing against licenses or royalties.
In the area of genomic research and genetic inventories we go through fast technological progress. Was it possible before ten years to study only few gene regions, is it now possible to analyze hundreds of genes simultaneously or even whole genomes. We shall extend in the next years the development and application of gene markers and DNA-sequence data considerably, especially for the application in international timber tracking research.
That we today occupy a prominent place in international research results from the continuing development of a worldwide infrastructure of trials in forests und a network of partnering labs. We represent Germany in the European Forest Genetic Resources Network (EUFORGEN) and edit the forest genetics journal ”Silvae Genetica“.
