理解林木重要性状形成的分子基础是开展现代先进林木育种技术的前提和基础。本项目以杨树等重要造林用材树种为研究材料，利用基因组学、生物化学、分子生物学、生物信息学等研究手段，(1)鉴定与林木逆境适应性相关的关键基因和基因家族，揭示这些关键基因和基因家族的功能以及功能分化的模式和机制，阐明关键氨基酸位点的变异与适应性功能分化之间的内在联系；(2)解析林木色素合成的代谢网络，揭示林木色素合成代谢途径关键基因和基因家族的功能及功能分化的机制；(3)克隆参与林木细胞壁合成和分解、以及参与次生生长的关键基因和基因家族，探明这些关键基因对细胞壁的建成以及次生木质部形成和分化的影响机制。通过整合所有基因组、基因表达和蛋白质功能数据，系统性地阐述林木重要性状形成的分子基础。本项目的研究结果为我国重要造林用材树种的分子改良提供新的理论依据和技术支持，有重要的经济、生态和能源战略意义。

Revealing the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of the key traits in forest trees facilitate us to develop modern tree breeding technologies. In this project, we will focus on the important planting timber trees, such as Populus, and use the methods of genomics, bioinformatics, molecular biology and biochemistry to reveal the genetic basis of the key traits in forest trees. (1) This study will identify key genes and gene families responding to abiotic stresses in forest trees, and investigate the molecular mechanisms of adaptive functional divergence of these gene families. Through site-directed mutagenesis, we will clarify the relationship between the key amino acid variability and the adaptable functional divergence of these gene families. (2) We will study will identify the complex metabolic networks of pigment biosynthesis in forest trees, and investigate the functions and functional divergence of the gene families involved in pigment biosynthesis. (3) This study will clone key genes and gene families responding to cell wall biosynthesis/degradation and secondary xylem development from the forest trees, and investigate their biological functions. By integrating the data of genomes, gene expressions and protein functions, this project will shed light on the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of the key traits in forest trees.