Evolution and pathogenic mechanism of important forest plantation pathogens and selection of disease resistant forest tree genetic materials

Project Period: January 2020-December 2023


Funding Source/Donor Organization: Ministry of Science and Technology, China


Executing Agency: Research Institute of Fast-growing Trees, Chinese Academy of Forestry


Contact: Li Guoqing: liguoqing@caf.ac.cn


Brief Introduction:


The following key issues were addressed in this project: 

  • determining causal agents of severe disease that occurred in plantations in southern China;

  • revealing the species diversity, population structure and pathogenicity of predominant species;

  • elucidating the evolution mechanism, ecological adaptability mechanism and pathogenic mechanism of the important pathogen; and

  • evaluating the resistance of tree species/genotypes towards to these diseases.

Through the implementation of this project, 

  • more than 5000 fungal strains will be collected, and more than 20 species will be identified;

  • 10-20 fungal genomes will be obtained;

  • 20-30 pairs SSR primers for several dominant pathogens will be designed;

  • 3-6 pathogenic genes will be determined for the key pathogen;

  • 2-3 resistant genotypes of Eucalyptus will be selected;

  • 5-8 postgraduate students will be trained;

  • 10-15 papers will be published; and

  • a influential research team focusing on plantation diseases will be built in the institute.