Conservation Genomics

Abstract

Conservation of Populus genetic resources can be defined at three levels: conservation of all Populus species, conservation of the variation present within species, and the conservation of the key evolutionary processes that will enhance further evolution of Populus species. In this context, genomics, the study of an organism' entire genome, can be considered as a powerful tool that would allow us to reach an integrated view of the genetic variation to be conserved. In particular, the application of principles and methodologies of population genomics to Populus hold great potential to answer some of the most relevant questions in poplar, aspen and cottonwood conservation genetics, such as how much functional variation is currently present and how to conserve it. Here, we review recent progress in applied conservation genetics in Populus and we sketch the potential for conservation genomics to transform this field in the very near future.