Theme: Adaptation, Breeding and Conservation in the Era of Forest Tree Genomics and Environmental Change

We are pleased to invite you to the International IUFRO-CTIA 2008 Joint Conference, which will be held on August 25-28, 2008 at the Loews Le Concorde Hotel in Quebec City, near the beautiful Battle Fields, the St-Lawrence River and the historical city. Under the theme of Adaptation, Breeding and Conservation in the Era of Forest Tree Genomics and Environmental Change, the Joint Conference is hosted by Université Laval and co-organized by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations Working Groups 2.04.01 (Population, Ecological and Conservation Genetics) and 2.04.10 (Genomics), the Canadian Tree Improvement Association (CTIA), Natural Resources Canada, and the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec.

In the recent years, forest and tree genomics research has flourished to the point that several tangible applications in tree breeding and gene conservation can be expected in the near future. Concurrently, the tree breeding and gene conservation community is facing unprecedented challenges with the predicted pace of environmental change. The convergence of these paths suggests a key role for genomics to assist in evaluating adaptation and economical traits. Thus, one goal of the joint conference is to reinforce connections between researchers as providers of knowledge in genetics and genomics, and end-users working in tree breeding and in forest genetic conservation.

Two symposia with invited speakers will take place during the main conference event. They are aimed at bridging genomics and adaptation, breeding, and conservation (ABC). Keynote speakers include David Neale (USA) and Antoine Kremer (France); other confirmed invited speakers are Sally Aitken (Canada), Thomas Byram (USA), Yousry El-Kassaby (Canada), Matias Kirst (USA), and Antje Rohde (Belgium). Other keynote speakers at the Arborea/Treenomix Workshop, the CTIA Wood Quality Workshop and the CONFORGEN Forum are Michele Morgante (Italy), Harry Wu (Australia) and Thomas Ledig (USA).

During the main conference event, sessions with voluntary oral presentations and posters will cover a large array of topics, including tree breeding and selection, quantitative genetics, mating systems, phylogeography and phylogenetics, gene flow and spatial structure, hybridization, adaptation, gene diversity and conservation, functional genomics, population genomics, gene mapping, QTL analysis and structural genomics, association genomics, genome sequencing, bioinformatics, simulation and modelling.

Other activities include banquet, field trips, CTIA and Arborea/Treenomix workshops, and CONFORGEN satellite conference. The welcoming reception is planned for Monday August 25, at the end of the afternoon.

For more information contact: Pascal Poulin

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To see the Timetable, click here.