Tree improvement relies on understanding and using variation that naturally occurs in tree populations. This presentation aims to allow the users to learn about tree improvement and the techniques and practices.

1. TREE IMPROVEMENT
ANAND CHARVIN.G

2. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
 Biotechnology comprises any technique that uses living organisms
to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals or to
develop micro-organisms for specific uses.

3. TREE IMPROVEMENT
Tree improvement relies on understanding and using variation that
naturally occurs in tree populations.
Tree improvement increases the value of a tree species by
1) selecting the most desirable trees from natural stands or
plantations,
2) breeding or mating these select trees.
3) testing the resulting progeny.

4. TREE IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES
 The establishment of initial
populations, including
species and provenance
testing, as well as the
development of breeding
and gene conservation
populations;
 Population improvement,
frequently including recurrent
cycles of selection and
recombination.
 The general objective of a
genetic improvement
Programme should be the
sustainable management of
genetic variation to
produce, identify and
multiply for the operational
planting of well-adapted
genotypes of the desired
quality.

5. TECHNIQUES OF TREE IMPROVEMENT
CRYOPRESERVATION
AND IN VITRO STORAGE
This comprises the
maintenance of cells,
tissues or organs in cultures
where growth is slowed
(e.g. by the reduction of
light, temperature or
nutrients) or suspended
(by immersion in liquid
nitrogen).
MAINTENANCE OF
JUVENILITY
Suspension of the growth
process implies the
maintenance of the
maturation state previously
attained in the tissues -
without any of the
uncertainty associated with
alternative strategies such
as long-term hedging or
serial propagation.

6. TECHNIQUES OF TREE IMPROVEMENT
USE OF MOLECULAR
MARKERS
The use of molecular
markers involves the
examination, using
sophisticated biochemical
techniques, of variations in
cellular molecules such as
DNA and proteins.
 Genetic fingerprinting.
 Quantification of
genetic variation.
The major current value of molecular markers lies in long-term strategic research;
marker studies are making great contributions to advances in the understanding of
basic genetic mechanisms and genome organization at the molecular level.

7. GENETIC ENGINEERING
This comprises the insertion of
novel genes into a plant or else
the modification of existing
genes through manipulation of
the DNA molecule.
TECHNIQUES OF TREE IMPROVEMENT
 It is important that genetically
engineered genotypes be of high
quality with respect to other traits
as well.
 The clonal test is the most logical
basis for the integration of genetic
engineering into traditional tree
improvement programmes.
 Genetic engineering is most
appropriately conducted with
species for which breeding
programmes are advanced and
clonal forestry can be realistically
contemplated.

8. MICROPROPAGATION
This refers to in vitro plant
propagation methods.
The principal approaches are
axillary budding (actually a
miniaturization of propagation
with cuttings):
Induction of adventitious buds
on non-meristematic tissue (i.e.
inducing a shoot where one
would not normally develop).
TECHNIQUES OF TREE IMPROVEMENT
Somatic embryogenesis (where
individual cultured cells or small
groups of cells undergo
development resembling that of
the zygotic embryo).
Work done with some crop
species indicates the possibility of
encapsulating somatic embryos
to form artificial seeds which can
then be handled like
conventional seeds.

9. CONCLUSION
 Modern biotechnology should be perceived as a new group of
tools or means to be used as adjuncts or complements to
conventional technologies in solving problems and meeting the
needs of human beings.
 A balance should be maintained between modern
biotechnological and conventional research, and the development
and application of biotechnology should be driven by needs and
not by technological capability.

10. THANK YOU