Potentials of combining somatic embryogenesis and genomic selection in Norway spruce

Objectives, impacts and benefits

The project aims to analyze possibilities of early selection for resistance against the major forest pathogen, Heterobasidion annosum in connection of somatic embryogenesis (SE) of Norway spruce.

Including selection for additional traits e.g. resistance in SE pipeline would add value to producers and users of SE plants. It may also be a way to deploy material more resistant to root rot much sooner than previously anticipated. Realization of this objective depends on that there is no trade-off between resistance and SE propagation.