BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Genetic Engineering and Society Center - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Genetic Engineering and Society Center
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ges.research.ncsu.edu
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Genetic Engineering and Society Center
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20240310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20241103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T130000
DTSTAMP:20260505T134156
CREATED:20250826T213011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251017T124829Z
UID:10000488-1761652800-1761656400@ges.research.ncsu.edu
SUMMARY:Justin Whitehill - A GIFT SEED: Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Fir Through Sequencing\, Economics\, Extension & Diagnostics | GES Colloquium (Hybrid)
DESCRIPTION:Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | GES Video Library (current) | Video Archives | Podcast | LinkedIn | Newsletter \nFALL SEMINAR SERIES\nA GIFT SEED: Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Fir Through Sequencing\, Economics\, Extension & Diagnostics\nHybrid: Biltmore 2006 + Zoom | This seminar explores how cutting-edge research on fir genetics is helping Christmas tree growers tackle pests\, pathogens\, and climate challenges while strengthening a $2.5B industry. \nA GIFT SEED is a newly funded USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant focused on accelerating genetic improvement of the most popular Fir (Abies spp.) Christmas tree species in North America. Fir account for 66%+ of the annual $2.5 billion US Christmas tree industry. The environmental impact of real versus artificial trees show a locally grown Christmas tree is the more sustainable choice as it can sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Optimization of Christmas tree farms as greenhouse gas sinks has potential to become a net-positive climate activity through incentivization of carbon offset programs. Planting genetically improved fir Christmas trees holds significant promise for the US Christmas tree industry to combat climate change and provide added value to farmers. Across the US\, Christmas tree planting stock is derived from germplasm of unknown genetic origin. Therefore\, the genetic value of extant planted materials cannot be determined using traditional tree breeding strategies. To address this concern\, North Carolina has established a state-funded breeding program dedicated to genetic improvement of Fraser fir. The A GIFT SEED project aims is to extend genetic improvement capabilities\, accelerate the domestication process\, and deliver increased value to the US Christmas tree industry through a transdisciplinary\, systems-based approach. The project is currently underway and expected to be completed in 2029. The project team is currently looking to hire undergraduate and graduate students\, postdoctoral scholars\, and technical support to assist with the project. Here we present on the current state of Christmas tree genetics and genomic research activities with a focus on pest and pathogen resistance and development of tissue culture systems for evaluation of gene function in conifers. \nRelated links: \n\nTranscriptome features of stone cell development in weevil-resistant and susceptible Sitka spruce\, Whitehill et al.\, New Phytologist\, 2023\nDownload seminar poster\n\nDr. Justin Whitehill\, PhD\nAssistant Professor/Christmas Tree Genetics Program Director at North Carolina State University | Profile | LinkedIn \nDr. Justin G. A. Whitehill is an assistant professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. He leads the Christmas Tree Genetics program and co-Directs the Forest Biotechnology Group. He and his team are working to develop pest and pathogen resilient Christmas trees through genetic and genomic approaches. He also holds an appointment in the Genetics Faculty at NCSU. Dr. Whitehill’s research lab at NC State consists of six graduate students\, two postdoctoral fellows\, three research associates\, one lab/project manager\, and multiple undergraduate research assistants. He is a Goodnight Early Career Innovator and the project director for a $7.42 million USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative project aiming to bring genetic and genomic tools to the US Christmas tree industry. Ongoing research projects in the Whitehill lab focus on integrating traditional genetic improvement methods with advanced genomic sequencing technologies to accelerate conifer tree breeding programs. His team is tackling the most pressing issues facing Christmas tree production in the US including mortality induced by Phytophthora root rot disease\, elongate hemlock scale\, and browsing deer. Additionally\, tissue culture techniques for elite Christmas tree germplasm are being developed to evaluate gene function and provide improved genetics more quickly to Christmas tree growers. \n\nThe Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes. \nGES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry\, and the seminars serve as a great opportunity for our students to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts\, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars\, which will now take place in Biltmore 2006. \nRemember\, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast\, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. \nPlease subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.
URL:https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/event/2025-10-28/
LOCATION:Biltmore 2006\, 2820 Faucette Dr\, Raleigh\, NC\, 27606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Colloquium,GES Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/102825_Colloquium_Justin-Whitehill_web.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="GES Center":MAILTO:gesocietycenter@ncsu.edu
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR