This proceedings is based on a joint meeting of the two IUFRO (International Union of Forestry Research Organizations) Working Parties, Somatic Cell Genetics (S2.04-07) and Molecular Genetics (S2.04-06) held in Gent, Belgium, 26-30 September, 1995. Although a joint meeting of the two Working Parties had been discussed in the past, this was the first such meeting that became a successful reality. In fact this meeting provided an excellent forum for discussions and interactions in forest bioteclUlology that encouraged the participants to vote for a next joint meeting. In the past decade rapid progress has been made in the somatic cell genetics and molecular genetics of forest trees. In order to cover recent developments in the broad area of biotechnology, the scientific program of the meeting was divided into several sessions. These included somatic embryogenesis, regeneration, transformation, gene expression, molecular markers, genome mapping, and biotic and abiotic stresses. The regeneration of plants, produced by organogenesis or somatic embryogenesis, is necessary not only for mass cloning of forest trees, but also for its application in genetic transformation and molecular biology. Although micropropagation has been achieved from juvenile tissues in a number of forest tree species, in vitro regeneration from mature trees remains a challenging problem in most hardwoods and conifers. The mechanisms involved in the transition from juvenile to mature phase in woody plants are poorly understood. This transition can now be investigated at the molecular level.

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Preface. Section I: Somatic Embryogenesis and Regeneration. 1. Clonal Propagation of Conifers Via Somatic Embryogenesis; P.K. Gupta, et al. 2. Effect of Glutamine and Osmoticum on Somatic Embryo Maturation in Norway Spruce (Picea abies) (L.) Karst; T.G. Guevin, E.G. Kirby. 3. Early Events in Somatic Embryogenesis Induction; M.C. Pedroso, et al. 4. Stability in Ploidy Level During Somatic Embryogenesis in Quercus canariensis; M.A. Bueno, et al. 5. Identification of Early Markers of Embryogenesis in Pine; H. David, et al. 6. Somatic Embryogenesis and Somaclonal Variation in Norway Spruce: Cytogenetic and Molecular Approaches; J.-L. Fourré, et al. 7. Towards Water Stress-Tolerant Poplar and Pine Trees: Molecular Biology, Transformation and Regeneration; A. Altman, et al. 8. Molecular Approaches to Maturation-Caused Decline in Adventitious Rooting in Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.); C. Diaz-Sala, et al. 9. A Comparative Study of Embryogenic and Non Embryogenic Cell Cultures in Picea abies (L.) Karts. - Identification of Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms and Detection of Differentially Expressed Peptides; P. du Jardin, et al. 10. Priorities for Application of Biotechnology to Plantation Improvement; R.D. Teasdale. Section II: Transformation and Gene Expression. 11. Genetic Engineering of Lignin Biosynthesis in Poplar; W. Boerjan, et al. 12. Stability and Expression of Chimeric Genes in Populus; M.R. Ahuja, M. Fladung. 13. Stable Genetic Transformation in Black Spruce and Tamarack and the Transgenic Expression of Conifer Genes;P.J. Charest, et al. 14. A Strategy for the Genetic Manipulation of English Elm; T.M. Fenning, et al. 15. Foreign Gene Expression in Pinus nigra, P. radiata and P. pinea following Particle Bombardment; M. Rey, et al. 16. Plantlet Regeneration Via Somatic Embryogenesis and Investigations on Agrobacterium tumefaciens Mediated Transformation of Oak (Quercus robur); E. Wilhelm, et al. 17. Highly Efficient Transformation and Regeneration of Transgenic Aspen Plants through Shoot-Bud Formation in Root Culture, and Transformation of Pinus halepensis; T. Tzfira, et al. 18. Expression of a Proteinase Inhibitor and a Bacillus thurigiensis &dgr;-Endotoxin in Transgenic Poplars; D. Cornu, et al. 19. Lignification Genes in Eucalyptus: Characterization, Expression and Subsequent Use for Lignin Manipulation; J. Grima-Pettenati, et al. 20. Characterization of Antisense Chalcone Synthase Transgenic Microcuttings; L. Jouanin, et al. 21. Higher Extractability of Lignin in Poplar (Populus tremula x P. alba) by Reducing Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase; M. Baucher, et al. 22. Transgene Expression in Spruce and Poplar: From the Lab to the Field; D.D. Ellis, et al. Section III: Molecular Markers and Genome Mapping. 23. Gene Discovery in Loblolly Pine Through cDNA Sequencing; C.S. Kinlaw, et al. 24. Molecular Approaches to Study Bud Dormancy in Populus; A. Rhode, et al. 25. Molecular Analysis of Pine Ferredoxin-Dependent Glutamate Synthase; A. Garcia-Gutierrez, et al. 26. Differentially Regulated Gene Se