Genome Sequencing May Save California's Iconic Sugar Pine

One pine tree has a genome much, much larger than the one for erect, sentient beings like us.

The sugar pine is the mighty conifer in question--and its huge genome, eight times the size of the human one, was recently sequenced by scientists. It was called the "king of the conifers" by John Muir about 100 years ago-- so maybe it's time we knew more about its genetics. Any findings about this endangered tree, Pinus lambertiana, will likely provide worthy information that might help us preserve it, according to a release.

"Having the genome sequence allows us to discover the underlying genetic determinants of disease resistance, which will greatly facilitate reforestation efforts," David Neale at the University of California Davis said in the release. "We can now give forest managers modern, rapid genetic tools to identify resistant trees."

Anyone, including other scientists, can look at the genome on the open-access Pine Reference Sequences website. When they do so, they'll be viewing the genome of one of the world's tallest tree species. It is endemic mostly to California and also lives in parts of Baja Mexico and into Oregon. The pinecones that it produces are 10 to 20 inches in length and among conifers' longest.

Since 1930, these pines have been susceptible to white pine blister rust, a fungal pathogen. Other threats to the sugar pine include bark beetle, drought and lack of Sierra Nevada snowpack.

While the loblolly pine was sequenced last year and was considered very large in genetic detail, the sugar pine has a genome that is 1.5 times larger than that one. Because pine trees grow in temperate forests worldwide, both genomes will help to learn more about these key world trees.

A report about the sugar pine's sequencing and other information is pending publication in one scientific journal, according to a statement.

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