Speaker Presentations
Scroll through the agenda below and click on any "View PDF" link to open a PDF of the presentation in a new window.
| Monday, June 19, 2017 | ||
| 6:15am - 11:30am | Optional Golf Outing [Golfers to gather in the Lobby at 6:45am] | |
| 12noon - 7:00pm | Conference Registration Open [Caribbean Ballroom Foyer] | |
| 1:00pm - 4:00pm | North American Quantitative Genetics Workshop [Trinidad & Martinique] | |
| Workshop Presentations | ||
| 1:00pm – 2:20pm | The Mystery Behind the Genomic Relationships: An Example in Maritime Pine — Dr. Fikret Isik, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC | |
| 2:20pm – 2:40pm | Refreshment Break | |
| 2:40pm – 3:20pm | Extending Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) to Multi-Environment Trial Analyses — Dr. Salvador Gezan, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL | |
| 3:20pm – 4:00pm | Uncovering Genetic Information from Commercial Forest Plantations -- European Larch in Austria — Dr. Milan Lstiburek, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic | |
| 4:00pm | Workshop Concludes | |
| 1:00pm - 4:00pm | Resistance Screening Center Steering Committee Meeting [St. Thomas & St. Croix] |
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| 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Forestry Agency Discussion [Antigua] | |
| 2:00pm - 6:00pm | Poster and Sponsor Move-In [Barbados] | |
| 4:15pm - 5:15pm | SFTIC Committee Meeting [St. Thomas & St. Croix] | |
| 6:30pm - 8:30pm | Welcome Social [Ocean Deck] | |
| Tuesday, June 20, 2017 | ||
| 7:00am - 8:00am | Morning Refreshments in Poster & Sponsor Display Area [Barbados] | |
| 7:00am - 5:00pm | Conference Registration Open [Caribbean Ballroom Foyer] | |
| 8:00am - 10:00am | OPENING PLENARY SESSION [Aruba] | |
| Tree Genome Structure and Evolution | ||
| MODERATOR: Dr. Gary Peter, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL | ||
| 8:00am - 8:30am | Welcome and Opening Remarks — Dr. Gary Peter | |
| 8:30am - 9:15am | Computational Approaches to Decode Megagenomes and Develop Database Resources for the Forest Tree Community — Dr. Jill Wegrzyn, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT View PDF | |
| 9:15am - 10:00am | Analysis of Pinaceae Gene Family Evolution Suggests Accelerated Gene Turnover in Pine Trees — Dr. Claudio Casola, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX View PDF | |
| 10:00am - 10:30am |
Refreshment Break in Poster & Sponsor Display Area [Barbados]
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| 10:30am - 12noon | PLENARY SESSION [Aruba] | |
| Accelerating Tree Improvement | ||
| MODERATOR: Dr. John Davis, Associate Dean for Research, University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL | ||
| 10:30am - 11:15am | What is Next in the Application of Genome-Wide Information to Tree Breeding? — Dr. Matias Kirst, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL View PDF | |
| 11:15am - 12noon | Genome Editing in Forest Trees: Progress and Future Prospects — Dr. CJ Tsai, University of Georgia, Athens, GA | |
| 12noon - 1:30pm | Group Luncheon Buffet [St. Martin & St. Lucia] | |
| 1:30pm - 3:00pm | CONCURRENT SESSIONS | |
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Session 1 [Aruba] |
Session 2 [Trinidad & Martinique] |
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| Breeding Strategies | Disease Resistance Genes | |
| MODERATOR: Mr. Gregory Powell, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL | MODERATOR: Dr. Dana Nelson, USDA Forest Service, Lexington, KY | |
| 1:30pm - 2:00pm |
Analysis and Selections of the CFGRP 4th Cycle Slash Pine Tree Improvement — Dr. Salvador Gezan, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL View PDF |
Genetic Diversity in Candidate Disease-Resistance Genes in Pinus taeda L. — Dr. Daniel Ence, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL View PDF |
| 2:00pm - 2:30pm | The Evolution of Breeding and Testing Strategies in the NC State University Cooperative Tree Improvement Program — Prof. Steve McKeand, North Carolina State University, Cooperative Tree Improvement Program, Raleigh, NC | Whole-Genome Sequencing of Chestnuts (Castanea) Reveals Within- and Among-Species Genetic Variation in Regions Associated with Resistance to Chestnut Blight and Predicted Disease Resistance Genes — Mr. Nicholas LaBonte, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN |
| 2:30pm - 3:00pm |
A New Era for the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center — Dr. Carolyn Pike, USDA Forest Service, West Lafayette, IN View PDF |
Focus on Characterized Compaction and the Association between Compaction and Tree Health and Cone Yields — Mrs. Serenia O'Berry, North Carolina State University Cooperative Tree Improvement Program |
| 3:00pm - 3:30pm | Refreshment Break in Poster & Sponsor Display Area [Barbados] | |
| 3:30pm - 5:00pm | CONCURRENT SESSIONS | |
|
Session 3 [Aruba] |
Session 4 [Trinidad & Martinique] |
|
| Biotechnology | Wood Yield | |
| MODERATOR: Dr. Carol Loopstra, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX | MODERATOR: Dr. Salvador Gezan, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL | |
| 3:30pm - 4:00pm |
Tubulins, Rhythms and Cell Walls in Poplar Leaves; Timing Might Be Everything — Dr. Scott Harding, University of Georgia, Athens, GA |
Benefits of Loblolly Pine Genetic Improvement for the Upper Coastal Plain of Mississippi — Ms. Valerie West, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS View PDF |
| 4:00pm - 4:30pm | Capturing Loblolly Pine Chromosomes for Genome Sequencing Using Laser Capture Microdissection Microscopy — Dr. Nurul Faridi, USDA Forest Service, College Station, TX |
Loblolly Pine Biomass Cropping Study — Ms. Jessie Maynor, North Carolina State University, Cooperative Tree Improvement Program, Raleigh, NC |
| 4:30pm - 5:00pm |
A Novel Approach to Phenotypic Analysis of Forest Trees for Accelerating Breeding — Dr. Donghwan Shim, National Institute of Forest Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea |
Benchmarking Gains from Planting Genetically Improved Loblolly Pine — Ms. Melissa Shockey, University of Georgia, Athens, GA View PDF |
| 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Poster Session & Networking Reception [Barbados] (NOTE: Poster presenters should eat between 5pm and 6pm. At 6pm, you are asked to be available at your poster for interaction, questions and discussions. If your poster is being judged in a competition, be sure you are available to meet with judges during this timeframe.) |
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| 7:00pm - 7:45pm |
Career Panel Workshop [Aruba] Panelists, including a representative from industry, government, and academia, will be available to answer employment questions by students who will soon be entering the job market. |
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| Wednesday, June 21, 2017 | ||
| 6:00am | Optional 5K Run/Walk on the Beach (Gather on the Ocean Deck) | |
| 7:00am - 8:00am | Morning Refreshments in Poster & Sponsor Display Area [Barbados] | |
| 7:00am - 5:00pm | Conference Registration Open [Caribbean Ballroom Foyer] | |
| 8:00am - 10:00am | CONCURRENT SESSIONS | |
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Session 5 [Aruba] |
Session 6 [Trinidad & Martinique] |
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| Markers for Gene Identification & Tree Improvement | Seed Orchards | |
| MODERATOR: Dr. Michael Cunningham, ArborGen Inc., Tallahassee, FL | MODERATOR: Prof. Steve McKeand, North Carolina State University, Cooperative Tree Improvement Program, Raleigh, NC | |
| 8:00am - 8:30am | Metabolomics Approaches for Tracking Biotic and Abiotic Stress Performance in Tree Improvement Programs — Dr. Anna Conrad, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY View PDF | Role of Summer Fertilization in the Nutrition and Carbon Relations of Loblolly Pine Reproduction — Dr. Mary Anne Sayer and Dr. She-Jean Susana Sung, USDA Forest Service, Pineville, LA |
| 8:30am - 9:00am | Progress on Pine SNP Discovery and SNP Array Design — Dr. Fikret Isik, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC | Use of Trunk Micro-Infusion Treatments for the Management of Specific Insect Pests of Seed Orchard and Plantation Trees — Dr. Donald Grosman, Arborjet Inc., Woburn, MA View PDF |
| 9:00am - 9:30am |
Improving the Association Mapping Pipeline in a Loblolly Pine Population with a Complex Pedigree through Increased Marker Coverage Validation Using Disease Resistance Data — Dr. Tania Quesada, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL View PDF |
Pollination Bag Type Impacts Cone Survival and Seed Yield for Mass Production of Control Cross Seed in Loblolly Pine — Mr. Austin Heine, North Carolina State University, Cooperative Tree Improvement Program, Raleigh, NC |
| 9:30am - 10:00am | Whole Exome Genotyping in Loblolly Pine Identified 2.8 Million Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Used for Association Analyses — Dr. Carol Loopstra, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX View PDF | Cone and Seed Characteristics in the Second Generation Seed Orchard of Pinus thunbergii: Seeds Are Significant Carbon Sink — Mr. Ki Won Kim, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea View PDF |
| 10:00am - 10:30am | Refreshment Break in Poster & Sponsor Display Area [Barbados] | |
| 10:30am - 12noon | CONCURRENT SESSIONS | |
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Session 7 [Aruba] |
Session 8 [Trinidad & Martinique] |
|
| Quantitative Genetics | Disease Resistance | |
| MODERATOR: Dr. Joshua Adams, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA | MODERATOR: Dr. Scott Merkle, University of Georgia, Athens, GA | |
| 10:30am - 11:00am | Acoustic Velocity and Drill Resistance Breeding Values and Genetic Parameter Estimates for Juvenile Loblolly Pine of the US Atlantic Coastal Plain — Mr. Trevor Walker, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC | Persea Species Restoration in Laurel Wilt Epidemic Areas — Ms. Katherine Smith, USDA Forest Service, Gainesville, FL View PDF |
| 11:00am - 11:30am | US Forest Service Longleaf Pine Progeny Test Review and Analysis — Dr. Dana Nelson, USDA Forest Service, Lexington, KY View PDF | Population Genetics of the Laurel Wilt Pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola — Dr. Tyler Dreaden, USDA Forest Service, Lexington, KY |
| 11:30am - 12noon |
Genetic Parameter Estimates from a Large Cloned Population of Loblolly Pine — Mr. Mohammad Nasir Shalizi, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC |
Fusiform Rust Resistance in an Atlantic Coastal Elite Loblolly Pine Population — Mrs. April Meeks, North Carolina State University, Cooperative Tree Improvement Program, Raleigh, NC |
| 12noon - 1:30pm | Group Luncheon Buffet [St. Martin & St. Lucia] | |
| 1:30pm - 3:00pm | CONCURRENT SESSIONS | |
|
Session 9 [Aruba] |
Session 10 [Trinidad & Martinique] |
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| Genomic Selection | Broadening Genetic Diversity | |
| MODERATOR: Dr. Matias Kirst, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL | MODERATOR: Dr. Fred Raley, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX | |
| 1:30pm - 2:00pm | Optimization of Genomic Selection Models for Slash Pine Advanced Breeding Population — Mr. Rodrigo Furtado dos Santos, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL |
Forest Service Southern Region National Forest System - It's All About GRITS — Ms. Barbara Crane, USDA Forest Service, Atlanta, GA View PDF |
| 2:00pm - 2:30pm | Variability of Genetic Response to Selection under GBLUP Evaluation — Dr. Jan Stejskal, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic | Performance of Sweetgum Varieties on Upland Sites in North Louisiana — Dr. Joshua Adams, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA |
| 2:30pm - 3:00pm | Analyzing Growth and Oleoresin Productivity of Loblolly and Slash Pine Pseudo-Backcross Hybrids — Ms. Jennifer Lauture, University of Florida, Miami, Florida View PDF | Diversity of Non-Native Tree Populations in the Different Districts of Rwanda — Dr. Kabera Telesphore, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda View PDF |
| 3:00pm - 3:30pm |
Refreshment Break in Poster & Sponsor Display Area [Barbados] (Poster presenters and sponsors to remove displays following break) |
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| 3:30pm - 5:00pm | PLENARY SESSION [Aruba] | |
| Advances in Tree Improvement | ||
| MODERATOR: Dr. Timothy White, Former Director and Professor, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL | ||
| 3:30pm - 4:00pm | Genetic Parameter Estimates of Height-Diameter Relationships in Loblolly Pine — Dr. W. Patrick Cumbie, ArborGen Inc., Ridgeville, SC | |
| 4:00pm - 4:30pm | Breeding without Breeding: Confirmation of Theoretical Concept Using Real-World Tree Improvement Program — Dr. Jiri Korecky, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic | |
| 4:30pm - 5:00pm | Conifer Terpenes: Manipulating an Ancient Plant Defense Pathway for Production of Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels — Dr. Gary Peter, University of Florida/IFAS, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL | |
| 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Break before Dinner | |
| 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Networking Social [Ocean Deck Pavilion] | |
| 7:00pm - 8:30pm | SFTIC Closing Dinner and Awards Banquet [St. Martin & St. Lucia] | |
| 8:30pm | Conference Concludes | |
