NAISS
SUPR
NAISS Projects
SUPR
Genomic Breeding and Comparative Genomics in Plant
Dnr:

NAISS 2025/5-732

Type:

NAISS Medium Compute

Principal Investigator:

Harry Wu

Affiliation:

Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

Start Date:

2026-01-01

End Date:

2027-01-01

Primary Classification:

10203: Bioinformatics (Computational Biology) (Applications at 10610)

Secondary Classification:

10610: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (Methods development to be 10203)

Allocation

Abstract

Since the publication of the large and complex (conifer) Norway spruce genome in 2013 and chromosome-level genome of Pinus tabuliformis in 2022, we have initiated genome re-sequencing, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using exome sequencing, GBS, and development of 50K SNP arrays from genome re-sequencing, and exploration of genomic selection for Norway spruce and Scots pine, the two most important tree species in Sweden forestry Industry. These genomic science projects were funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) with more than 25 publications. We are now scaling up the GWAS and genomic selection in partnership with the Swedish national tree breeding organization, Skogforsk, to implement genome re-sequencing, GWAS and genomic selection for the Swedish national breeding programs of Norway spruce and Scots pine. The scaling-up project to the breeding program includes: (1) re-sequencing 850 Norway spruce (Genome size 20Gb) and 300 Scots pine trees (Genome size 25 Gb) at 10X coverage to study genome structure variation, (2) developing an extra-high density 800K SNP array for Norway spruce; (3) Genotyping 18,000 Norway spruce trees and 10,000 Scots pine trees using high density SNP arrays; (4) Conducting GWAS to discover major genes for 15-18 quantitative traits for population size from 300 to 18,000 individuals; (5) Conducting SNP calling and genomic selection for 20 Norway spruce and 10 Scots pine breeding populations; (6) study genomic selection across generations using 50,000 genomic markers. In 2022, we were granted new funding from SSF (2022-2026) to re-sequence 600 additional Norway spruce trees for GWAS and from Kempe and Föreningen Skogsträdsförädling foundations (2023-2025) to re-sequence 150 pines trees from five species to study comparative genomics and genomic signatures of adaptive evolution in gymnosperms. Our group also secured two projects for climate adaptation study of Norway spruce (EU Horizon2020-773383). For the former, adaptation of 1100 Norway spruce populations collected from species-wide and planted at 20 locations in 12 European countries will be phenotyped and genotyped. In 2025 the Norwegian Research Council funded the OakBreed project aimed at developing a breeding program for Quercus robur (pedunculate oak) and Q. petraea (sessile oak) in Norway. In the context of this project, a reference genome will be assembled for each species using HiFi long reads together with Omni-C technology, a SNP array will be developed to help in high throughput genotyping for breeding, and 200 individuals from each species will be re-sequenced for population and comparative studies. We also started a new pilot pangenome project for Norway spruce to assemble de novo 15 trees. Results from these projects will offer unprecedented resources to help breeders improve the way we produce fiber, wood, and food in plants that will have superb and stable performance for mitigation to climate change.