Resource use efficiency in forestry: Utilisation of tree genetic resources Judy Loo and Ramni Jamnadass Bioversity International & World Agroforestry Centre15 February, 2016

Phot

o: K

rishn

asis

Gho

sh

Presentation overview:• Background: CG & tree genetic

resources; what’s different about trees?

• Values of trees

• Biotech approaches for trees – remembering the smallholder

• African Orphan Crops Consortium

• Allanblackia example

• Using genes to improve management practices

• The right tree for the right placeKyrgyzstan. Photo by Judy Loo

Trees are different!

• Large, long-lived, late maturing, highly diverse, mostly undomesticated

• Long-distance pollination, produce millions of seed throughout lifetime – particular challenges and opportunities

• ~ 80,000 species; thousands important for livelihoods

• Often trees are managed on some form of the commons – public land, community forests, etc.

Table 1. Some advantages and drawbacks of the tree growth formAdvantage Drawback

Great potential of biomass gain High maintenance costs

High competition after successful establishment Extremely high recruit mortality

Endurance to short-term resource depletion Increased probability of suffering catastrophic events

Great lifetime fecundity Delayed maturity

Little dependence on particular reproductive events Trade-off between present reproductive output and future growth, survival, and reproduction

Large pollen and seed production and release height facilitate gene dispersal

Low plant density complicates mating and increases pollen limitation

Relatively little seed limitation of recruitment Strong limitation of suitable sites and time windows for recruitment

Local adaptation favored by strong selection during early life stages

Local adaptation hindered by high gene flow

Reduced accumulation of mutations per unit of time Increased mutation rate per generation

Strong inbreeding depression increases outcrossing rate and maintains genetic diversity

Lifelong accumulation of somatic mutations results in susceptibility to inbreeding depression

From: Rémy Petit and Arndt Hampe, 2006 , Some evolutionary consequences of being a tree

Different uses and values of trees:Products and Services

B. Trees for Services

A. Trees for Products

Food Firewood Medicine Income Sawn wood Fodder

Soil fertility Carbon sequestration

Erosion control

Watershed protection

Shade Biodiversity

English name Species name Jan Feb Mar April May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Vit C Vit ATickberry Lantana camara                        Pawpaw Carica papaya                   + +++Mango Mangifera indica         + +++Banana Musa x paradisiaca        Loquat Eriobotrya japonica   +++

Mulberry Morus alba     (+)Tamarind Tamarindus indica    Waterberry Syzygium spp.       +++Custard apple Annona reticulata     (+)Guava Psidium guajava         +++ +Pomegranate Punica granatum  White sapote Casimiroa edulis     (+)Wild medlar Vangueria madagascariensis      Lemon Citrus limon       +Orange Citrus sinensis       +Chocolate berry Vitex payos       +++Avocado Persea americana            Passionfruit Passiflora edulis     +Jacket plum Pappea capensis    Desert date Balanites aegyptiaca     (+)Bush plum Carissa edulis                        

Available species 2 4 6 4 4 5 4 2 3 1 2 2

Hunger gap

Fruit tree portfolio for vitamin supply Vitamin A 

and C supply possible year-round

 Cultivation of 8-13 fruit tree species on each farm 

Investment valueForestry investments continue to rise on back of global demand - Anthony Johnson, Alternative Asset Analysis,November 20, 2015

• $80 billion worth of forestry investments were made in 2014

• Up to $200 billion and $300 billion a year into forestry as returns become more lucrative.

• Timberland returns have increased each year for the past five years

• Example: Eucalyptus in Brazil. In the 1970s Fibria produced 6.4 tonnes of cellulose/ha. By 2015, when Fibria was on the fourth generation of its cloned genetically improved trees, productivity had almost doubled, with 11.2 tonnes of cellulose per hectare. The company expects that by 2025 it will produce15 tonnes of cellulose for every hectare.

Photo by Judy Loo

http://alternativeasset.co/forestry/forestry-investments-continue-to-rise/?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=forestry1

Biotech applied to trees

GMO trees

Genomic selection

Sequencing and resequencing

Cloning

Breeding (QTLs)

Molecular tools for management

Timber tracking

Improving returns on planting - restoration

AFRICAN ORPHAN CROPS CONSORTIUMGENE JOURNEY

VISIONTo improve the nutritional content, productivity and climatic adaptability of

some of Africa’s most important food crops (including 47 tree species); providing a fundamental step in helping to eradicate chronic hunger,

malnutrition and stunting in the children of Africa

2010-11 Conceptualization of AOCC - an uncommon public-private partnership under leadership of Mars, ICRAF, University of California, Davis (UCD) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)

Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki CEO NEPAD presented AOCC to African heads of state at an African Union Assembly and they voted to endorse the initiative

The African Plant Breeding Academy (AfPBA)

• Dec 3rd 2013: Opened at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

• Dec 2014: 1st class of 25 breeders graduated

• Dec 2015: 2nd class of 25 breeders on going 

• 250 plant breeders and technicians will be trained over 5 years.

ICRAF Hosting AOCC Genomics Lab and AfPBA

The African Orphan Crops Consortiums Genomics Lab

• Dec 2013: Life Technologies donated instrumentation and lab establishment started

• Jan- Sept  2014: Lab set up; Staff was appointed (2 technical assistants, 1 scientist)

• December 2014: 1st species sent for whole genome sequencing to BGI, China

• February 2015: 1st re-sequenced genome of common bean at ICRAF

MEET THE Orphan CROPsSThe 101 targeted crops are the home garden crops of rural Africa and a part of Africa’s agro-forestry systems

BAMBARA GROUNDNUT

High quality protein, iron, calcium, potassium

High quality protein, micronutrients, iron, 

zinc , Vit A

AFRICAN NIGHTSHADE

FINGER MILLET

High quality protein, methionine, calcium, 

Vit A, B1, B2

SPIDER PLANT

Anti-oxidants, Beta carotene, calcium, iron, 

Vit C

High quality fats, anti-oxidants, medicinal and 

industrial use

SHEA TREE MORINGA

Miracle tree, Oleic acid, calcium, potassium, iron, copper, Vit A, C

UAPACA KIRKIANA

Low in fats, potassium, Vit C, high fiber, high 

energy (sugar)

PASSION FRUIT

High fiber, iron, copper, magnesium, potassium, 

Vit C, A

Sl No.

Species (at various stages of sequencing)

1 Adansonia digitate2 Adansonia kilima3 Vigna subterranean4 Casimiroa edulis 5 Sclerocarya birrea6 Lablab purpureus7 Celosia argentea8 Cleome gynandra 9 Digitaria exilis10 Solanum nigrum11 Artocarpus heterophyllus12 Artocarpus altilis13 Dovyalis caffra14 Parinari curatefolia15 Saba senegalensis16 Uapaca kirkiana17 Anacardium occidentale18 Parkia biglobosa19 Phaseolus vulgaris20 Annona senegalensis- assembled21 Faidherbia albida- assembled22 Solanum aethiopicum- assembled23 Moringa oleifera- assembled24 Eleusine coracana- assembled

AOCC Progress: Sequencing, Re-sequencing and Transcriptome Sequencing

Sl No.

Species (at various stages of re-sequencing)

1 Phaseolus vulgaris2 Elusine indica3 Cleome gynandra4 Brassica carinata5 Vigna subterranea6 Musa spp.7 Sclerocarya birrea8 Uapaka kirkiana9 Strychnos cocculoides10 Parinari curatellifolia11 Adansonia digitata12 Lens culinaris

Sl No.

Species (for transcriptome sequencing)

1 Allanblackia sp2 Adansonia digitata3 Ziziphus mauritiana4 Annona senegalensis5 Dovyalis caffra6 Faidherbia albida7 Lablab purpureus8 Vigna subterranea9 Mangifera indica10 Carica papaya11 Psdium guajava12 Morus alba13 Anacardium occidentale14 Brassica carinata15 Solanum aethiopicum16 Solanum nigrum17 Cleome gynandra18 Celosia argentea

Allanblackia 9 species; oil used for centuries for cooking, medicine, timber.

Partners

• Unilever • Local Novel / Novella companies• World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)• World Conservation Union (IUCN)• Union for Ethical Biotrade (UEBT)• Form International 

Elements

• Establishing supply chains• Domestication• Experimental plots

Capturing genetic gain in A. parviflora

• Progeny evaluation reveals plus trees for selection• First time fruiting of a 6-year old tree, producing 79 fruits

Supply chain and market development

Achievements

• Becel Gold margarine• Over 10,000 farmers planted200,000 seedlings

• Functioning local supply chains in 3 countries• 15 rural resource centres• Improvements in propagation and reduced seed dormancy period

• IUCN guidelines on best practice for wild harvesting

Challenges with PPPs in agroforestry• Differing cultures – academia and commercial• Investment of time and effort• Overcoming risks• Public policies• Failure in reportingand delivery

• Trust

Genetic considerations in forest management and restoration

Where is the line between selective harvesting and degradation?

How does selective logging affect genetic diversity and viability of populations of high value timber

species? Seed source and diversity for

successful restoration.

Sustaining trees for timber and food A study in Gabon, Cameroon and Congo DRC

How is logging affecting the reproductive capacity and genetic diversity of logged over stands?

• Moabi (timber, fruit and oil)• Sapelli and Tali (timber and edible caterpillars)

J.Tieguhong; Bioversity photo

L.Snook Bioversity photo

How does logging affect pollination and gene flow?

Pollination and gene flow are influenced by tree distribution.

If tree density is reduced by logging:• Inbreeding may increase, reducing seed viability and the success of regeneration• Genetic diversity may decrease, reducing the adaptability of regeneration

The loss of animal pollinators and dispersers, declining due to hunting, causes similar effects.

Effects of logging on reproduction and genetic diversity

Q1 – level of inbreeding before loggingQ2 – pollination distanceQ3 – are selfed seedlings viable?Q4 – how far is seed dispersed?Q5 – Inbreeding level after loggingQ6 – sufficient gene flow after logging?

Preliminary results: Tali – concession with lowest density < 0.1 trees/ha; maximum distance for effective pollination – 1 km; selfing occurs, seedlings do not survive.  Moabi –  low density, low pollen-mediated gene flow; seed dispersal by elephants efficient, but elephant populations in decline.Sapelli – no problem with gene flow by pollen or seed in studied population in Cameroon; additional populations needed.

Planting: Decision-support tools for species selection (the right tree for the right place)

Useful Tree Species for Africa VECEA

“ICRAF have a nifty new tool out called Useful Tree Species for Africa. I’ve been playing with it and I have to say it’s impressive” Luigi Guarino, http://agro.biodiver.se/

http://maps.vegetationmap4africa.org/ea_pnv.html

Survival and productivity of planted trees on the restoration siteOrigin of seed must match (current and future) site conditions to ensure adaptedness

Good growth, reproduction and resilience over tree generationsGood seed collection practices capture the genetic diversity of the seed sources

Restoration planting - Genetic diversity is the foundation for:

Trees representing two same age provenances of Parkia biglobosa in field trial.

Maladapted source

Local well-adapted source

B. Vinceti, Bioversity photo

Acacia mangium

Introduced to Sabah from Australia in 1967.

Two small stands (34 and ca. 300 trees) established using seed from a single tree – became seed source.

Used to establish more than 15000 ha of plantations.

Reduction in average seedling height by 44% from the first to the third generation (Sim 1984).

Example: Effects of poor seed collection practices accumulate over generations

GenerationSeedling Height

(cm)

First 32.5

Second 20.7

Third 18.1

Decision support- right seed source for the right place

• Adaptive traits– Provenance trials– Marker assisted or genomic selection

• Levels and patterns of genetic diversity– Molecular markers

• For most species genetic analyses have not yet been carried out

• Much work remains to ensure effective planting for restoration and agroforestry benefits

Matching source to site

www.bioversityinternational.org

Thank you

@BioversityInt

Judy Loo and Ramni Jamnadassj.loo@cgiar.org, r.jamnadass@cgiar.org