Researchers of LSFRI "Silava", Baiba Krivmane and Ineta Samsone participated in the international conference Trees for the Future: Cloning and Beyond, organized by the COST action CA21157 European Network for Innovative Woody Plant Cloning (COPYTREE) at the University of Coimbra (Portugal) from May 10 to 17.
At the Conference both researchers presented poster presentations with study results in forest tree biotechnology of LSFRI "Silava":
- Baiba Krivmane: Expression of flowering genes in in vitro propagated silver birch clones with differing flowering, which introduced real-time PCR results from a study of the flowering genes BpMADS4, BpAP2, and BpRAP2 in silver birch (Betula pendula). Samples were collected both from approximately 12-year-old birches at the Norupe nursery and from 3-year-old microclonally propagated birches grown in pots in the Climate House of LSFRI "Silava". The analysis included female and male flower tissues as well as leaf tissues.
- Ineta Samsone: Development of synthetic seed technology of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), which provided insights into the developed method of encapsulating shoot tips for long-term in vitro storage of birch genetic material. The study results indicate that using 3% sodium alginate and 100 mM calcium chloride allows the preservation of shoot tips for at least seven months at low positive temperatures, maintaining viability and successful regeneration.
During the conference, Baiba Krivmane also took part in the meeting of COST Action CA21157 Management Committee , strengthening the Institute's international collaboration and partnership network.
The Conference was held from May 12 to 14, followed by a post-conference excursion on May 15 and 16, during which participants visited the Peneda-Gerês National Park — one of the most important protected natural areas in Portugal.
Baiba Krivmane