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]
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]
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 ProspectsDr. CJ Tsai, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
12noon - 1:30pm Group Luncheon Buffet [St. Martin & St. Lucia]
1:30pm - 3:00pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Session 1
[Aruba]
Session 2
[Trinidad & Martinique]
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 ProgramProf. 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 GenesMr. 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 YieldsMrs. 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 PineMs. 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.)

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.
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
Session 5
[Aruba]
Session 6
[Trinidad & Martinique]
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 ReproductionDr. 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 DesignDr. 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 TreesDr. 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 DataDr. 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 PineMr. 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 AnalysesDr. 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
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 AreasMs. Katherine Smith, USDA Forest Service, Gainesville, FL  View PDF
11:00am - 11:30am US Forest Service Longleaf Pine Progeny Test Review and AnalysisDr. Dana Nelson, USDA Forest Service, Lexington, KY  View PDF Population Genetics of the Laurel Wilt Pathogen, Raffaelea lauricolaDr. 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 PopulationMrs. 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]
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 PopulationMr. Rodrigo Furtado dos Santos, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Forest Service Southern Region National Forest System - It's All About GRITSMs. Barbara Crane, USDA Forest Service, Atlanta, GA
View PDF
2:00pm - 2:30pm Variability of Genetic Response to Selection under GBLUP EvaluationDr. 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 RwandaDr. 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)
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


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