The option of operative GMO is not suggested to affect the tree breeding effort.
Skogforsk ought not to take responsibility for the first field trials with GMO. The first field trials are foreseen to have a too basic character to fit into the applied profile of Skogforsk. If Skogforsk manages GMO trials it gives the false impression that applications in operative breeding and forest plantation is close. Probably the propaganda from the research will strengthen that impression. There are special procedures and requirements for GMO and it is better that the State Universities and Research Parks make the first developmental efforts. The first GMO field trials with trees are likely to get unwelcome attention. It is easier for Governmental institutions to handle these situations and the risk that they will suffer from public relation is less. Actually even the public debate about GMO in forestry may create problems. It has created a real hazard for seed orchards in British Columbia, that may be a motive that forest institutions avoid actions, which can give the impression that they are involved with it.

Student reactions
Dag Lindgren had a lecture/seminar ending the course part of the research school 2006-12-01: Immediate Applications of Biotech in Tree Breeding???? The intention was that this should at least partly be a jump off for the continued work in group 2. Student reactions and suggestions were asked for but few (if any) came. The research school students are unique in the World! They have got a basic training on both classical and molecular breeding with the goal to be able to communicate and combine both Worlds. They have got good funding and been exposed to modern conferences and leading scientists. If they do not know any immediate applications, no-one knows and where are no! Dag L offered to send his lecture with e-mail to those who asked for it, but no-one has asked (except Rosario, who was not present, but asked if I shared something). Thus the interest to search for new immediate applications seem low among the research school students.

 

Dag Lindgren suggests he develops a historical review

Historic review of earlier efforts with biotech in tree breeding

Breeding without Breeding
Some suggestions in the presentation for the whole auditorium
 ForadlingssynpunkterMar07.ppt
 

Polycross with forward selection and pollen parents decided by markers
 

Comment about SSRs for seed orchards and Breeding Without Breeding by Dag Lindgren February 2008.

I started molecular work as I thought that big advances had been done in the previous decades, since I worked with seed orchards with isozymes. Partly I was influenced by the results by a visiting Japanese postdoc. So I tried to work with SSRs with Xiao-Ru Wang and another Japanese Postdoc. I am rather disappointed by the progress made in two decades, and if I knew what I know now I would probably not have jumped into it, but it is too late to change and I can still hope for the best and we anyway do get results. The systems are more powerful than isozymes, but the progress seem to be a factor 4 and not a factor 20 in two decades (since 1988) for what can be done with a given resource, and you are more constrained by the technique which requires more fancy equipment and more specialised competence. David Hall should take up work but did not do it in two years because of waiting for someone else to get started, which indicates it is not as easy as thought.

Details about the work with "project" 2:
Email were send enquiring people for suggestions: Ove Nilsson, Rosario, David Neale  ..... Bengt makes a suggestion of what to write before writing more....(not done yet)