Premise: The heritability of gene expression is critical in understanding heterosis and is dependent on allele-specific regulation by local and remote factors in the genome.  In this study, we used RNA-Seq to test whether variation in gene expression among F1Continue reading… Smart Lab publishes first detailed analysis of gene expression inheritance in Salix spp.

Each year, the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY hosts undergraduates from across the country for an eight week Summer Research Scholar program that seeks to engage students in research projects focused around one of four areas:Continue reading… Smart lab hosts two undergraduates as part of the NYSAES Summer Research Scholar Program

Premise: Yield improvement of woody bioenergy crops has been the major focus of breeding programs, but biomass quality is also important for conversion to biofuels. Using high-resolution thermogravimetric analysis, the composition of biomass samples from two shrub willow (Salix spp.)Continue reading… Impact of genotypic and environmental effects on variation in shrub willow biomass quality

Premise: “The use of mixed models has allowed us to analyze a large yet unbalanced dataset of shrub willow yields in order to characterize GEI. The main findings are incremental increases in yield were achieved through traditional breeding techniques, thatContinue reading… Paper update: mixed model evaluation of yield in shrub willow hybrids

Premise: Root biomass is an important trait often disregarded in woody perennial selection due to the challenge and expense of accurately and efficiently measuring large populations. In this study, we aim to develop a simple method that can predict rootContinue reading… Smart lab publishes paper using capacitance as a predictor of root dry wt. in shrub willow

Premise: Shrub willow is showing promise as a dedicated bioenergy crop in areas of North America. Early breeding efforts have demonstrated that its broad taxonomic diversity can be exploited for genetic improvement. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the yield potentialsContinue reading… New paper from Smart Lab on GxE in shrub willow

Forage and Fuel: Feeding the Global Appetites periodiCALS Vol. 5 | Issue 3 | 2015 By Sarah Thompson Exerpt: “There is a strong push for local production of food these days; I would love to see us make the sameContinue reading… Smart Lab bioenergy research featured in latest issue of periodiCALS