Provenance and Breeding Research

Within the research group provenance trials are conducted with a variety of broadleaved and coniferous tree species. Species are evaluated for their productivity and adaptability. These investigations provide the necessary foundation/data for decision processes leading to national and international laws that govern the distribution, propagation and use of forest reproductive material. Hereby, an important focus is research on the genetic and epigenetic bases of adaptedness and adaptability of tree populations to climate change. Tree breeding research concerns the optimization of biomass and valuable/high-end wood production in several tree species. Here, research focuses on fast-growing tree species (poplars, willows, black locust, and hybrid larch). The evaluation and documentation of forest genetic resources at national and European levels is an additional focus within the research group.