Jérôme Salse
Friday, 26 February
13h30 — Main conference room, INRA Champenoux

30 May – 2 June 2016
Palais des Congrès
Arachon, France

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INRA is organizing a two-day international conference on the theme Genomics and Forest Tree Genetics. Researchers are invited to  present and discuss new scientific findings in the area of population, quantitative and evolutionary genetics and how they can be applied to genetic resource conservation and breeding. Participants are invited to submit contributions from empirical, experimental and theoretical works which address leading scientific and applied issues.

A decade after the first forest tree whole-genome sequencing was released and published (for the black cottonwood in 2006), rapidly advancing sequencing technology in ‘omics’ (which permits scientists to study populations without sacrificing the ability to analyze any individual component) and bioinformatics (the science of collecting and analyzing complex biological data such as genetic codes) have significantly improved our understanding on several fronts: (i) tree growth and development, (ii) the response of trees to intrinsic and extrinsic factors, the remarkable capacity buffering capacity of trees enabling them to cope with chronic stresses and extreme events, and (iii) the molecular basis of genetic variation within and between species, and how variation has been shaped by evolutionary forces and how that relates to phenotypic variation and adaptation.

Genomics is sure to play a major role in upcoming decades by furthering our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the evolution and adaptation of these organisms, and contributing to developing and implementing innovations in management and policy actions aimed at preserving the adaptability of natural forests and intensively managed plantations. Knowledge acquired through the use of ‘omics’ technologies holds tremendous potential and could significantly impact how we help forests adapt to major future challenges (e.g. increases in wood demand, pressure to conserve forested areas, climate changes and associated threats).

For more information —

• Program and registration  : Genomics and Forest Tree Genetics Conference
• IUFRO
  

Joël Hamada is a PhD student working with two ARBRE labs, the Research Unit for the Study and Research of Wood Materials (LERMAB) at the University of Lorraine, and the Joint Research Unit for Forest and Wood Resource Studies (LERFOB). He is currently participating in the EVAQBT2 project. The topic of his research is “Effects of the natural variability of wood on the reactions of thermo-degradation involved in the heat treatment of wood in order to better control the process and the quality of the material obtained”.

Joël talked with us recently about his personal path as a researcher, where and when his interest in forest sciences began, and what brought him to study thermal wood treatment. Interestingly, Joël has the advantage of having worked in the forest products sector, which brings valuable perspective to his research. He is also fluent in Italian.

Follow this link to read the full interview.
ARBRE Interview — Joël Hamada

Pre-existing forests as sources of pathogens? The emergence of Armillaria ostoyae in a recently planted pine forest

To meet increasing demand for wood around the world, land dedicated to forest plantations are on the rise. These new plantings, usually carried out over large areas, use a single tree species, and sometimes single tree clones. Such highly homogeneous ecosystems, from an ecological and genetic point of view, have proved to be more vulnerable and particularly susceptible to attack by a number of bio-aggressors, both endemic and introduced (bacteria, fungi, insects, nematodes, etc.). In a publication published on December 1, 2015 in Forest Ecology and Management, researchers at INRA Bordeaux-Aquitaine (UMR BIOGECO) and INRA Nancy-Lorraine (UMR EEF and IAM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of the Forest Health), describe how they used maps from the 18th century to highlight the role formerly forested areas play as sources of disease, specifically in maritime-pine plantations in the Landes forest in France planted at the end of the 19th century, the largest maritime-mine forest in Europe.

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For more information ..

Read the INRA press release (in French)
Read the abstract on Science Direct 

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In Bogor, Indonesia on September 15 of this year, a new project was launched within the BIO-Asia 2015 framework. Supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development (MAEDI) and by LabEx ARBRE, this project entitled “Extraction, characterization and exploitation of bio-molecules from Asian wood sector by-products”, brings together partners across Asia including the Department of Forestry Products at Bogor Agricultural University in Indonesia (IPB), the Forest Biotechnology Laboratory at the University Putra in Malaysia (UPM), and the joint research unit UMR 241 EOI at the University of French Polynesia. Two key partners from the Lorraine region are the Joint Research Unit for Tress/Microorganism Interactions (UMR 1136 – IAM) and as project lead, the Research Unit for the Study and Research of Wood Materials (EA 4370 – LERMAB).

BIO-Asia is a regional program and a French initiative directed at Asia aimed at strengthening high-level scientific collaboration and developing a research network for French and regional academic communities in the fields of biodiversity and biotechnology studies, ranging from the study of natural substances to their applications in agronomy, forestry, health, etc.

The annual ARBRE PhD & Postdoc Day is designed to highlight the work of young and upcoming researchers; doctoral and postdoctoral students working within eight LabEx partner research units. The range of subjects fall under the four ARBRE thematic areas; integrative biology, functional ecology, wood material and forest economy. Organized by the PhD and postdoctoral students themselves, this event aims to give those working in different disciplines and research areas a chance to share the focus and dynamics of their own projects and to learn about projects happening in other labs — the challenge lies in how to bring that all together for a one-day event.

This year’s team of organizers, representing three different labs were Pierre-Antoine Chuste (EEF), Erwin Sentausa (IAM), Yohann Daguerre (IAM), Joël Hamada (LERMAB), succeeded with flying colors. They managed to plan a full and engaging day including project presentations, a poster exhibit and a key-note speaker (Joey Spatafora) who presented his work on the international ‘1000 Fungal Genomes Project’ — all started off with something new : Science Speed Dating. With the help of Nathalie Carol (who initiated and animated this brilliant idea), participants were each given a short “Pick up My Project” questionnaire form, asked to pair off with a partner and at the sound of the gong, explain their projects in 3 minutes. The gong sounds again and they switch roles, the partner explains their own project — each then has one minute to fill out the questionnaire. Everyone then switches partners and meets someone new and learns about a new project.  At the end of the day, questions and responses for each ‘project’ were posted in large format for everyone to see the results. Not only did it break the ice for the day, it proved to be an interesting tool to illustrate, in a fun way, the importance (and challenge) of explaining research projects to non-specialists.  And how collaborative research projects might begin to take shape.

Feedback from the day was universally positive. We want to congratulate the organizers for their initiative, creativity and professionalism. And above all, for their good sense of fun — Bravo!

The organizing team : Joël Hamada (LERMAB), Yohann Daguerre (IAM), Pierre-Antoine Chuste (EEF) and Erwin Sentausa (IAM).

“Pick up my project”
Science Speed Dating
An effective and fun tool for explaining and learning about ongoing projects in neighboring labs. The challenge? Explaining your science to non-specialists .. and fast.

Keynote speaker Joey Spatafora
Professor with the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University currently on sabbatical working with Francis Martin and the IAM team at INRA, Champenoux. Learn more about the Joey Spatafora Lab and the ‘1000 Fungal Genomes Project’.

This year’s PhD & Postdoc Day will take place on 16 November 2015 at the INRA center in Champenoux.

The annual ARBRE PhD & Postdoc Day is designed to highlight the work of young and upcoming researchers; doctoral and postdoctoral students currently working within eight LabEx partner research units. Organized by the PhD and postdoctoral students themselves, this event aims to give those working in different disciplines and research areas a chance to share the focus and dynamics of their own projects and to learn about projects happening in other labs — to set the stage for a constructive and creative exchange of ideas via a series of presentations, discussions, and a scientific poster exhibit!

For the detailed program, please visit the ARBRE PhD & Postdoc Day homepage.

Henri Cuny, a post-doc in the D-Clim group at WSL, received word recently that an article of his had been accepted in Nature Plants.  His paper is based on his PhD research at INRA Nancy quantifying the intra-annual dynamics of carbon allocation in tree stems. This work was subsequently extended to include Northern Hemisphere analysis, and has clearly demonstrated significant and widespread differences between increases in wood tissue size and mass. This finding poses significant consequences with regard to our understanding of the global carbon cycle, in particular its quantification using external tree measurements.

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Trees may grow and put on weight — but not necessarily at the same time

An international consortium led by scientists of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), in collaboration with AgroParisTech, has shown that mechanisms involved in tree growth are in action at different times. First, the tree gets bigger due to the production and enlargement of woody cells; then the cell walls are reinforced, which increases the tree’s mass. These results, published in Nature Plants on 26 October 2015, suggest that the effects of climate change may alter the second phase and in turn modify carbon sequestration in wood, a climate change issue.

Follow this link to read more —  the full INRA press release