Forest Tree Breeding and Genomics

News: Project homepage "Improving Fraxinus (ash) productivity for european needs by testing, propagation and promotion of improved genetic resources"; Chloroplast DNA primer database

Services

Co-operations

Welcome to the homepage of the "Forest Tree Breeding and Genomics" Unit!

Here you can have a view into the genome of the forest trees!

© Berthold Heinze - NLG Vienna, Austria; and IMB Jena image LIBRARY OF Biological Macromolecules - Jena, Germany

In addition you will find here an overview of our tasks and activities, our staff, as well as current news.

Organization

Department for Forest Tree Breeding and Genomics - one of 3 specialized units of the Department of Forest Genetics

Department of Forest Genetics - one of 8 specialized departments of the Federal Office and Research Centre for Forestry

Federal Office and Research Centre for Forestry BFW - an agency of the Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, the Environment and Water Management

Organisational scheme

Tasks

We research into the following areas:

the genetic basis of growth characteristics of the forest trees
in co-operation with early testing and field testing
Development of applications ready for the user (Forest Genomics)
Forest tree breeding and selection on a molecular genetic basis
Breeding for the increase of wood production and ecological stability (resistances, varieties, clones)
Clone, variety, and offspring tests
vegetative propagation of broadleaf and coniferous trees
Cooperation in concepts for a monitoring of genetically transformed organisms in forest ecological systems
Genomics of other organisms in the forest eco-system
Wood biomass production in short rotation

"breeding attempts with forest trees"

from the Museum of Forest Research in Mariabrunn

For the accomplishment of these tasks we continue to increase our know-how constantly (at specialized congresses, through scientific literature, contacts). We plan and budget research projects internally and externally. We often execute the research projects in close co-operation with other institutes, universities, chambers of agriculture and forest enterprises in Austria and abroad (particularly within the European Union and candidate countries, as well as North America). Professional project management and controlling (cost assessment) are emphasised.

We specialize in DNA analytics of trees, nursery plants, seeds etc. for our research projects and investigation purposes. We also do DNA analytics on demand for nurseries, forest enterprises or other prospective customers; we accompany the the whole process, from problem oriented sampling to understandably written technical reports.

We develop, adapt and validate new research methods in the molecular genetics of organisms in the forest eco-system.

Further we take care of the organization of the molecular genetic laboratory in Mariabrunn (safety questions, quality questions, planning of equipment and chemicals demand, use of equipment, rational work organization).

We develop data bases with the test results and care for these. We cooperate in the production of consulting documents and specialized appraisals.

Our research results are published and introduced in lectures on scientific congresses and at meetings with the forest practicioners as well as e.g. over the InterNet.

We maintain contacts abroad and within Austria, maintain public relations in the fields of knowledge and present scientific contents for the forest practice and the general public. In addition still, training activity (support of students and trainees) is offered.

Staff and contact

	Dipl. Ing. Dr. Berthold Heinze (head)		Dipl. Ing. Vasilios Pelekanos (deputy)
	Irena Nanista (laboratory)		Karl Pesak

Guests and temporary:

	Agnieszka Koziel contractor in project "improvement of the productivity of the ash")
	Dr. Monika Konnert Bavarian Office for Forest Seed and Tree Breeding Dr. Konnert visited us in April 2002, learning methods and techniques in the DNA laboratory.

How to find us:

Our laboratories and offices are located in " Mariabrunn ", a former monastery building in Vienna-Hadersdorf (14th district).

map of surroundings

Postal address:
Hauptstrasse 7, A-1140 Vienna (Austria)

Room numbers:

Berthold Heinze - room 120 (1st floor, south wing)
Vasilios Pelekanos - room 129
Irena Nanista - rooms 18 (ground floor, south wing) or 17 (laboratory, ground floor, south wing)
Karl Pesak - rooms 18 (ground floor south wing) or Kiln (ground floor south wing)

Telephone, fax and email:

within Austria: (01) 87838 -

Berthold Heinze - extension 2219 - email Berthold.Heinze@bfw.gv.at

Vasilios Pelekanos - extension 2228 - email Vasilios.Pelekanos@bfw.gv.at

Irena Nanista - extension 2114, 2113, 2105 or 2115 - email Irena.Nanista@bfw.gv.at

Karl Pesak - extension 2115 or 2117

Fax - extension 2250

Research

We work on the following research projects:

"Improvement of the productivity of the ash" - characterisation, selection, propagation and promotion of better suitable ash material in forestry

Molecular-genetic investigations of noble hardwood trees - wild cherry and sycamore maple

Services

At present, we offer the following molecular genetic tests of forest plants:

Clone identification of poplar varieties
Clone distinction of vegetativy propagated forest plants
Provision of unambiguous genetic profiles ("genetic fingerprints") of forest plants
Cherry variety investigations

Fees are charged on a cost-dependent basis.

Forest Tree Breeding and Genomics		Deutsch-German-Allemand-Alemán
Head: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Berthold Heinze
Online publications: Heinze	Publication list: Heinze