Objective

The Working Party on Genetic Resources (WP-GEN) includes three main areas of work, namely: (1) Taxonomy, nomenclature and registration; (2) Domestication, breeding and selection; and (3) Plant health, resilience to threats and climate change.

WP-GEN is aimed at promoting contacts across worldwide scientists and experts working in genetic resources of poplar, willow and other fast-growing trees, with a view of encouraging and facilitating information exchange and dissemination of research programme results. It provides a forum for discussion of issues related to the improvement and conservation of genetic resources, with an emphasis on adaptation and resilience of germplasm. It also assists the IPC and its Executive Committee in all matters related to poplar, willow and other fast-growing trees genetic resources.

Action Plan 2023-2024

1. Update information on breeding programs and collections;
2. Develop a list of researchers and networks involved in the domestication and conservation of poplar, willow, and other fast-growing trees and facilitate information exchange;
3. Promote sound use and enable adoption of improved genetic materials together with the application of sustainable forest management practices for beneficial impacts on yields, ecosystems and livelihoods;
4. Organize, promote and participate into technical meetings and field days involving researchers, farmers, smallholders and private sector that use these fast-growing trees to facilitate the knowledge-based, inclusive and environmentally sustainable use of improved genetic materials. 

Key results and publications

Working party publications:

• Report from 48th Session of Executive Committee 
• International Register of Cultivars of Populus L. (poplar) 
• Checklist for cultivars of Populus L. (poplar)
• Checklist for cultivars of Salix L. (willow) 
• Report from 47th Session of Executive Committee 

Related publications:

• Checklist for Cultivars of Populus for Ornamental and Environmental Uses 
• New edition of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants 
• Breeders Letter of November 22, 2016 

Webinars: 

• Speaker: Dr. Yousry El-Kassaby, Professor of Applied Forest Genetics and Biotechnology at the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Canada. "Genomic-Based Nimble and Efficient Tree Selective Breeding Framework" - Passcode: DC!W*^3r     

WP-GEN Contacts

• Teresa Cerrillo, Chairperson, National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA), EEA Delta del Paraná, Argentina. Contact: [email protected].

Area of work 1: Taxonomy, nomenclature and registration:

• Julia Kuzovkina, Vice-Chairperson, University of Connecticut, USA. Contact: [email protected].
• Sara Bergante, Vice-Chairperson, Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis, Rome (CREA) Centre, Italy. Contact: [email protected].

Area of work 2: Domestication, breeding and selection:

• Eduardo Pablo Cappa, Vice-Chairperson, National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA), Natural Resources Research Center, Biological Resources Institute, Argentina. Contact: [email protected].
• William Macalpine, Vice-Chairperson, Sustainable Soils and Crops, Rothamsted Research, UK. Contact: [email protected].

Area of work 3: Plant health, resilience to threats and climate change:

• Mauritz Ramstedt, Vice-Chairperson, Swedish University of Agriculture, Forest Mycology and Pathology, Sweden. Contact: [email protected]. 
• Raju Soolanayakanahally, Vice-Chairperson, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada. Contact: [email protected].
• Ian McIvor, Vice-Chairperson, Plant and Food Research, New Zealand. Contact: [email protected].
• Sasa Orlovič, Vice Chairperson, Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, Serbia. Contact: [email protected].

Technical secretary:

• Laura Rosso, Technical Secretary, Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis, Rome (CREA) Centre, Italy. Contact: [email protected].