The Poplar Tree:
Advancing Alternative Energy Sources

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Forest trees contain more than 90% of the Earth’s terrestrial biomass, providing such environmental benefits as carbon capture, renewable energy supplies, improved air quality, and biodiversity. However, little is known about the biology of forest trees in comparison to the detailed information available for crop plants.

DNA sequence information provided by DOE JGI enables forest tree biologists to perform large-scale analyses of genes, leading to improved plant materials for the forest products industry and to the selection of genetic traits for addressing questions related to the DOE’s energy-related mission.

The first tree ever sequenced was the black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa, which is the largest American poplar and the largest hardwood tree in western North America. Research by DOE JGI and its partners may increase this tree’s ability to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while improving the fast-growth qualities that make it a better renewable bioenergy resource.

 

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