The goal of the Poplar Genome Based Research for Carbon Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems program is to conduct basic research that could lead to strategies to improve the use of trees and forests (including plantations) for long-term sequestration of meaningful amounts of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems. The purpose of human-directed carbon sequestration is to slow the ongoing increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, which may be contributing to climatic change. Research projects funded through the Program are designed to obtain the scientific understanding needed to select, breed, and/or manage trees to meaningfully enhance biological carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems. Both plants (i.e., trees) and soils (i.e., soil organic matter) are appropriate targets for carbon storage. Mechanisms for enhancing carbon sequestration include increasing annual amounts of photosynthesis (assimilation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by plants), increasing partitioning of assimilated carbon (photosynthate) into long-lived tissues in tree biomass (primarily wood), changing the chemistry of organic exudates from tree roots in order to slow oxidation of those exudates, and/or changing tree or rhizosphere chemistries to slow the decomposition of dead tree biomass and resulting soil organic matter. The Program's research builds on the documented genomic sequence of a female black cottonwood tree [Populus balsamifera L. ssp. trichocarpa (Torr. & Gray ex Hook.) Brayshaw, clone Nisqually-1]. The Program will also support research using relevant microbial genomic sequences (e.g., genomic sequences of microbes important to carbon processing in the rhizospheres under trees). More information is available at the Program's website.

Program Manager

Jeff Amthor
jeff.amthor@science.doe.gov

(301) 903-2507

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