NovelTree is a large collaborative project on novel forest tree breeding strategies coordinated by INRA, Orleans. It includes 14 partners (8 are also EVOLTREE partners) from Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

NovelTree is designed to enable significant genetic improvement of tree characteristics and forest products properties to satisfy the needs (quality, quantity, sustainability, vulnerability) of the forest-based sector and consumers. The challenges facing forest geneticists and tree breeders include recognition of changing demands on forests for a wider range of high value forest products and sustainability of forest ecosystems under climate change.

NovelTree will provide a list of morphological and physiological traits relevant as selection criteria for pest tolerance, sustainable biomass production, wood properties for present and future use and plastic response to climate change.

Efforts will be put on identification of functional allelic polymorphisms for a suite of traits of interest thanks to a post-genomics approach. Concomitantly, the project will participate in the development of high throughput phenotyping and genotyping tools in collaboration with EVOLTREE NoE.

These new tools will allow earlier genetic evaluation, higher selection intensity, increased accuracy in genetic prediction and better monitoring of genetic diversity along generations. Novel and improved breeding strategies integrating phenotypic and genotypic information will be proposed. Demonstration of their efficiency will focus on model tree species of high economic importance in different European regions: Maritime Pine, Scots Pine, Spruce, and Poplar. Support decision tools will be made accessible to tree breeders and forest owners for optimal deployment of improved genetic stocks in both prevailing and future climate, and under risk of pest and disease attacks.

NovelTree project will also provide training in emerging technologies in connection with on-going European projects, disseminate the results to different audiences and transfer technology to the Forest-based sector.

Further information can be found on the NovelTree website.