Selected Research Activities

• Application of somatic embryogenesis for Christmas tree production. The project is aimed at developing the somatic embryogenesis (SE) technology for efficient clonal propagation of firs in the production of Christmas trees. The project was initiated in 1995 by a collaborative effort between the Norwegian forest research institute and Biri national nursery.
• Genomics of the wood formation process. We are using a genomics approach to analyze the regulation of the woodformation process. Loblolly pine cDNA microarrays have been used to identify genes that are correlated to the formation of different types of wood, e g compression wood, early wood-late wood.
• Regulation of embryo development. The formation of the gymnosperm embryo within the seed takes place within the female megagametophyte. We are studying how the formation of the embryo is controlled on a molecular level.
• Biological responses in small target cell populations. Description of intracellular responses in target cell populations by microarray gene expression analyses. Cells are isolated from small target areas within plants, or mammalian model systems, that are subjected to specific conditions. A description of the intracellular response to thespecific condition is obtained through bioinformatics processing of the gene expression data.

Selected Publications

• Egertsdotter, U., van Zyl, L.M., MacKay, J., Peter, G., Whetten, R. and Sederoff, R. 2004. Gene Expression during Formation of Earlywood and Latewood in Loblolly Pine: Expression Profiles of 350 Genes. Plant Biol. 6: 654-663.
• Stasolla, C., Bozhkov, P.V., Chu, T.-M., van Zyl, L., Egertsdotter, U., Suarez, M.F., Craig, D., Wolfinger, R.D., von Arnold, S., Sederoff, R.R. 2004. A transcriptional pathway during somatic embryogenesis in gymnosperms. Tree Phys. 24 1073-1085.
• Watkinson, J.I., Sioson, A.A., Vasquez-Robinet, C., Shukla, M., Ellis, M., Heath, L.S., Ramakrishna, N., Chevone, B., Watson, L.T., van Zyl, L., Egertsdotter, U., Sederoff, R.R., Grene, R. 2003. Photosynthetis acclimation is reflected in specific patterns of gene expression in drought-stressed loblolly pine. Plant Phys. 133(4): 1702-1716.
• Stasolla, C., Scott, J., Egertsdotter, U., Kadla, J., O' Malley, D., Sederoff, R. and van Zyl, L. 2003. Analysis of lignin produced by cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase-deficient Pinus taeda cultured cells. Plant Phys. Biochem. 41(5): 439-445.
• Ciavatta, V.T., Egertsdotter, U., Clapham, D., von Arnold, S. and Cairney, J. A. 2002. Promoter from the Loblolly Pine PtNIP1;1 Gene Directs Expression in an Early-Embryogenesis and Suspensor-Specific Fashion. Planta. 215: 694- 698.
• Egertsdotter, U. and von Arnold, S. 1998. Development of somatic embryos in Norway spruce. J. Exp. Bot. 319:155-162.
• Egertsdotter, U. 1998. Somatic embryogenesis in Picea suspension cultures. In Plant Cell Culture Protocols. Ed. R. Hall, Totowa, Humana Press. ISBN 0-89603-549-2.
• Egertsdotter, U. 1996. Regulation of somatic embryo development in Norway spruce (Picea abies). Agronomie 16:603-8.
• Egertsdotter, U. and von Arnold, S. 1995. Importance of arabinogalactan proteins for the development of somatic embryos of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Physiol. Plant. 93:334-45.
• Egertsdotter, U., Mo, L.H. and von Arnold, S. 1993. Extra cellular proteins in embryogenic suspension cultures of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Phys. Plant. 88: 315.

Professional Achievements

• Consultant on applications of molecular techniques in forest tree breeding programs
• 15 years of experience from tissue culture technique applications to forest trees
• Marie Curie Fellowship from the European Union
• Adjunct Associate professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, Dept of Biology and Institute of paper Science and Technology
• The Gunnar Nicholson Fellowship