GENOMIC RESOURCES FOR THE FINE HARDWOOD BLACK CHERRY, PRUNUS SEROTINA

Black Cherry is the largest of the native cherry trees and of significant commercial value as a fine hardwood. Although it is found throughout the Eastern United States, the highest quality black cherry trees are located in the Allegheny Plateau. The heart of commercial Black Cherry production receives high ambient ozone levels during the growing season. Black Cherry is especially sensitive to ozone pollution which poses a major challenge for maintaining the productivity and quality of our forests. To study the genetic and environmental basis of wood quality and ozone stress in black cherry, genomics resources will be developed for application in tree breeding and silviculture with black cherry and other hardwood tree species.