IUFRO workshop on Forest Genetic Common Gardens: FORGENIUS project contributions
FORGENIUS co-sponsored the IUFRO Workshop on Forest Genetic Common Gardens, held in Madrid from 27–29 November 2024. Forest Genetic Common Gardens networks are essential infrastructures that provide experimental data to address different aspects of provenance adaptation and breeding, with application to the conservation and sustainable use of forest tree species under climate change.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that common gardens play a vital role in the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources. Drawing on past experiences, participants highlighted the need for a combined effort to maintain and expand existing networks and to make them accessible to the research community.
The workshop explored the state-of-the-art and existing common garden networks, addressing key topics such as:
- Advanced experimental designs.
- Latest high-throughput phenotyping and genotyping tools.
- The potential of common gardens to inform ecological and evolutionary modelling.
A significant focus was placed on the evaluation of traits related to the adaptation and adaptability of forest populations, as well as the importance of studying genotype-phenotype relationships under controlled environments. This data complements studies conducted in natural settings, such as those undertaken within the FORGENIUS project.
Participants also underscored the necessity of establishing new common gardens, including species and populations of minor economic importance. These new gardens should feature more efficient designs to address the adaptability of forest genetic resources and the role of interspecies and interpopulation competition under future climatic conditions.
FORGENIUS project coordinator, Ivan Scotti (INRAE), as well as Horizon Europe “OptFORESTS” programme coordinator, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez, delivered remarks during both the Opening and Closing Sessions, highlighting the projects’ ongoing efforts. Additionally, several FORGENIUS participants actively contributed to discussions on topics directly linked to the project’s objectives, including the adaptation of forest trees, novel traits to enhance resilience, and high-throughput phenotypic and genotypic tools.
By engaging with the broader scientific community, FORGENIUS continues to push the boundaries of research and innovation in forest genetic conservation.