The Symposium on Willow Genetics and Genomics (SWGG) will be focused on the unique aspects of willow diversity and breeding for biomaterials and bioeconomy. Willow species (Salix spp. L.) are considered of great importance as biomass feedstocks for bioenergy and biofuel production, since they show high biomass productivity, easy vegetative propagation and fast growth in short-rotation coppices. To attain the full potential of willows as bioenergetic crops, it is crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying wood formation and plant development. Among the different willow species, purple willow (Salix purpurea L.) gained special attention for biomass production and as a model species for the Salicaceae family, in particular after that its genomic sequence was made publicly available (www.phytozome.net). With this unique resource, it is expected an increased number of studies on comparative genomics in Salicaceae species, and the delivery of powerful tools to be applied in willow breeding programs for an array of end-uses.
The main focus of the “Symposium on Willow Genetics and Genomics” will be addressed to understand how the new genetic and genomic tools available for the different willow species can contribute to elucidate wood formation and plant development, as well as to design breeding programs for these species. The Symposium is held in the frame of the NCN funded project PurpleWalls, and aims to boost the synergies among the national and international researchers working on different fields of knowledge, ranging from willows diversity to the use of willows for phytoremediation and biomass production for biofuels and phytochemicals. It will be also an opportunity to present the main results obtained in the PurpleWalls project, thus establishing and extending future collaborations between the participants of the meeting.
The Symposium will be organized in two main sessions. The first session will be dedicated to the discussion on genetic and genomic resources available for willow breeding programs, and a second session will be dedicated to the epigenetic regulation of genome. The participants are strongly advised to present a communication in form of poster. Among the posters sent, two of them will be selected for oral presentations.
As SWGG is organized as a satellite meeting of the IV National Conference on Genetics and Genomics, we invite all the attendees to participate to this conference.