Sequencing Populus: An Impetus for Understanding Tree Biodiversity and Evolution

A whole-genome sequencing plan for forest trees was recently initiated on the genome of a tree model system - Populus , to understand a number of fundamental evolutionary questions regarding intra- and interspecific differentiations in higher plants. This chapter discusses how the Populus genome sequence can be used to gain new insights into the genome organization, structure, and function of woody plants. The sequence data being collected will help in integrating tree genetics and physiology to improve our understanding of tree growth and development from the molecular level to the landscape.