The coniferous wood consists mainly of tracheids of which structure, lifespan and chemical characters differ significantly from the xylem cells of hardwoods. However, it is not known which molecules are causing the differences in the wood of conifers and hardwoods. The aim of this study is to increase the resolution of the knowledge that concerns the gene expression during the initial stages of tracheid formation in Norway spruce by utilizing the modern single-cell RNA sequencing. The aim of the study is also to validate the conclusions recently made through network inference on genes that putatively regulate cell wall formation in conifers. The analyses are done by using individual cells, cell lines, whole plants and proteins, and the research is mainly conducted at the University of Oulu. The current demand for wood biomass and carbon sinks highlights the importance of knowledge based forest management, so the information on genes controlling wood formation is especially valuable.

2020

2025