Image: A new federally funded project will take a closer look at how tree cells—especially the wood-forming cells known as xylem—function during colder months and lay the groundwork for greater understanding of tree genetics and productivity. “We know trees go dormant in the winter, and we just forget about it. But genes are still there, doing their job—proteins and metabolism are still working,” said C.J. Tsai, the Winfred N. “Hank” Haynes Professor at the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and an eminent scholar with the Georgia Research Alliance. She found only one paper, published 20 years ago, that looked at how tree xylem cells functioned in winter. “So we thought, this is an opportunity—it’s a knowledge gap.” The three-year, $2.7-million project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Read More: UGA Today Article
