Investigating genetic variation in species and populations of Salix L. with particular emphasis on wood formation and disease resistance genes

Abstract

The genus Salix L. (willows, sallows and osiers) of the Salicaceae consists of dioecious, catkin-bearing trees, shrubs or undershrubs with simple, nearly always alternate leaves. Willows are used as biofuel and biomass crops, but there is a lack of information on their genetic variability. This information will be crucial to further development of future commercial clones. This project aimed to investigate genetic diversity in a set of willow species and in populations of Salix caprea L. (goat willow) and Salix viminalis L. (osier). In particular, neutral markers (nuclear and chloroplast microsatellites) and also sequences from several gene fragments involved in wood formation or disease resistance were used.