Andrew T. Groover

My laboratory uses genetic and genomic tools to understand the genetic regulation of growth and development of forest trees. A major focus is determining the genes and mechanisms that regulate wood formation. Currently there are three main projects in my lab:

• We are determining the genetic and molecular mechanisms regulating wood properties important for drought tolerance in trees, in collaboration with Isabelle Henry at the UC Davis Genome Center.
• In collaboration with Vladimir Filkov at UC Davis, we are determining the transcriptional networks regulating the vascular cambium and wood formation in the model forest tree genus, Populus (funded by USDA AFRI).
• In collaboration with Luca Comai and Isabelle Henry at UC Davis, we are determining the mechanisms responsible for superior performance of Populus hybrids for bioenergy production. This research is funded by the joint DOE/USDA Plant Feedstock Genomics program, and will provide new genomic tools for poplar breeders to identify germplasm with unique genotypes and increased biomass yields, and develop techniques for creating poplar hybrids with unique combinations of chromosomal regions.
• We are investigating methods for evolution and development (evo-devo) studies of wood formation in trees. Evo-devo studies could give important insights into the evolutionary origins and diversification of woody growth, and could ultimately provide new approaches for developing applications for bioenergy, carbon sequestration, and conservation.