Application of high-throughput sequencing technologies in native forest tree species in argentina: implications for breeding

Abstract

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies became a powerful approach to generate genomic resources in non-model tree species and to assist breeding programs. These technologies are being used in native forest trees of Argentina and this chapter summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge. A brief description of the HTS technologies is followed by general applications of HTS on forest trees for genomic resources development and massive genotyping. Genomic strategies to accelerate tree breeding includes genome-wide association studies and genomic selection. HTS technologies were applied to Argentina's native tree species for transcriptome and genome sequencing of Nothofagus species and transcriptome sequencing of Prosopis alba and Cedrela balansae. Ongoing HTS projects include the transcriptome sequencing of Austrocedrus chilensis, Handroanthus impetiginosus and Cordia trichotoma; the genome sequencing of Austrocedrus chilensis and the transcriptome sequencing of Nothofagus alpina and N. obliqua under drought stress conditions. Current and future genetic studies on native forest tree species and implications for breeding are discussed.