A nucleic acid-based method for tree phenotype prediction: dna markers for fibre and wood quality properties

摘要

The present invention relates to methods for identifying individual trees having a superior phenotype and more particularly to molecular markers and/or quantitative trait loci (QTL) which can be used to identify individual trees having a superior phenotype. The molecular markers and/or QTL comprise restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern or PCR-fingerprint. The molecular markers and/or QTL can be used for the development of marker-assisted breeding, rapid assessment techniques or to identify orthologous functional genes by sequence homology in trees of different a genus and/or species. DNA markers are e.g. for fibre coarseness, microfibril angle, pulpstrength and yield, lignin content, pitch propensity and calcium accumulation determinants.