A research team in forest genomics has developed tests that will significantly reduce the time needed to select the best trees for reforestation. By analyzing the genome of white spruce only a few weeks old, the researchers are now able to predict the characteristics these trees will have 20 years later thanks to their breakthrough discovery.

To learn more, read Université Laval’s press release (French only)

The discovery made by Jean Beaulieu, Trevor Doerksen, John MacKay, André Rainville and Jean Bousquet was published in BMC Genomics.

The research was funded by Genome Canada, Génome Québec, the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre and the ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec.