The community of root fungi is associated with the growth rate of Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) by Hamberg, L, Vanhatalo, J, Velmala, S, Taylor, AFS, MacKay, J, Caron, S, Asiegbu, FO, Sievänen, R, Raumonen, P, Hytönen, T, Pennanen, T

“…Some ectomycorrhizal species, typically found on mature spruces, were more prevalent on saplings from slow‐growing spruces. …”

Association genetics of wood physical traits in the conifer white spruce and relationships with gene expression. by Beaulieu, J, Doerksen, T, Boyle, B, Clément, S, Deslauriers, M, Beauseigle, S, Blais, S, Poulin, P, Lenz, P, Caron, S, Rigault, P, Bicho, P, Bousquet, J, Mackay, J

“…In this study, we used a candidate gene approach to test for associations between 944 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers from 549 candidate genes and 25 wood quality traits in white spruce. A mixed-linear model approach, including a weak but nonsignificant population structure, was implemented for each marker-trait combination. …”

Gene copy number variations in adaptive evolution: the genomic distribution of gene copy number variations revealed by genetic mapping and their adaptive role in an undomesticated species, white spruce (Picea glauca) by Prunier, J, Caron, S, Lamothe, M, Blais, S, Bousquet, J, Isabel, N, MacKay, J

“…Here, we report on the genetic mapping of gene CNVs in white spruce, which lacks a contiguous assembly of its large genome (~20 Gb), and their relationships with adaptive phenotypic variation. …”

Identification of conserved core xylem gene sets: conifer cDNA microarray development, transcript profiling and computational analyses. by Pavy, N, Boyle, B, Nelson, C, Paule, C, Giguère, I, Caron, S, Parsons, L, Dallaire, N, Bedon, F, Bérubé, H, Cooke, J, Mackay, J

“…White spruce transcript profiling experiments that compared secondary xylem to phloem and needles identified 360 xylem-preferential gene sequences. …”

CNVs into the wild: screening the genomes of conifer trees (Picea spp.) reveals fewer gene copy number variations in hybrids and links to adaptation by Prunier, J, Caron, S, Mackay, J

“…Gene CNVs were assessed in three full-sib families from species with 20 Gb genomes, i.e., white and black spruce, and interior spruce - a natural hybrid.We discovered hundreds of gene CNVs in each species, 3612 in total, which were enriched in functions related to stress and defense responses and narrow expression profiles, indicating a potential role in adaptation. …”

The large repertoire of conifer NLR resistance genes includes drought responsive and highly diversified RNLs by Van Ghelder, C, Parent, GJ, Rigault, P, Prunier, J, Giguère, I, Caron, S, Stival Sena, J, Deslauriers, A, Bousquet, J, Esmenjaud, D, MacKay, J

“…Our analyses encompassed sequences data spanning the major groups of land plants and determinations of NLR transcripts levels in response to drought in white spruce. We showed that conifers have among the most diverse and numerous RNLs in tested land plants. …”

Involvement of Pinus taeda MYB1 and MYB8 in phenylpropanoid metabolism and secondary cell wall biogenesis: a comparative in planta analysis. by Bomal, C, Bedon, F, Caron, S, Mansfield, S, Levasseur, C, Cooke, J, Blais, S, Tremblay, L, Morency, M, Pavy, N, Grima-Pettenati, J, Séguin, A, Mackay, J

“…Morphological, histological, chemical (lignin and soluble phenols), and transcriptional analyses, i.e. microarray and reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used for extensive phenotyping of MYB-overexpressing spruce plantlets. Upon germination of somatic embryos, root growth was reduced in both transgenics. …”

Transcriptome profiling in conifers and the PiceaGenExpress database show patterns of diversification within gene families and interspecific conservation in vascular gene expressio... by Raherison, E, Rigault, P, Caron, S, Poulin, P, Boyle, B, Verta, J, Giguère, I, Bomal, C, Bohlmann, J, Mackay, J

“…CONCLUSION: Together, the oligonucleotide microarray and the PiceaGenExpress database represent the first resource of this kind for gymnosperm plants. The spruce transcriptome analysis reported here is expected to accelerate genetic studies in the large and important group comprised of conifer trees.…”

Subgroup 4 R2R3-MYBs in conifer trees: gene family expansion and contribution to the isoprenoid- and flavonoid-oriented responses. by Bedon, F, Bomal, C, Caron, S, Levasseur, C, Boyle, B, Mansfield, S, Schmidt, A, Gershenzon, J, Grima-Pettenati, J, Séguin, A, Mackay, J

“…It is reported here that nearly all Sg4 MYB genes in the conifer trees Picea glauca (white spruce) and Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) form a monophyletic clade (Sg4C) that expanded following the split of gymnosperm and angiosperm lineages. …”