Pinar Guner, PhD Candidate

Pinar developed low-cost markers to track disease resistance alleles segregating in backcross and F2 populations (supported by the McIntire-Stennis program).

Pinar also identified a locus causing dwarfism in Pinus taeda. Interestingly, the mutation arises somatically in the same area of the genome on unrelated trees (funded by my startup package). See: Guner, P., M. N. Shalizi, F. Isik, and T. D. Walker. 2026. Dwarfism in Pinus taeda originates from independent somatic mutations co-localized in a shared genomic region. Heredity. 135(1):23–33.

She also evaluated genomic prediction for stem forking rates in a two-generation breeding population (supported by the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program).

Chris Heim, PhD student and TIP Staff member

Chris is developing methods to induce flowering in young orchards to support genomic selection and expedite seed orchard harvests. He is also evaluating dwarf rootstock for seed orchard efficiency. He is a Research Associate supported by the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program.

Makenzie Bowman, MSc student

Makenzie developed phenology models to predict pollen receptivity of flowers. She incorporated weather forecast data as a decision support tool for breeders (supported by the Cooperative).

Jay Creech, MSc student

Jay is researching barriers to selfing to support seed orchard design efficiency (supported by the Cooperative).

Mariano Trachta, MSc (2025)

Mariano evaluated methods to process drill resistance data to support selection from genetic field trials. See: Trachta, M. A., J. J. Acosta, and T. D. Walker. 2024. Removing Friction and Bark Improves Drill Resistance Data for Selection on Wood Density in Pinus taeda Plantations. Forest Products Journal. 75(1):26–33.

He also analyzed provenance/seed source trials to provide insights on the effectiveness of mass selection. See: Trachta, M., S. E. McKeand, and T. D. Walker. 2025. A comparison of non-improved provenances and improved checklots from a Pinus taeda breeding program. Tree Genetics & Genomes. 21(5):24.

He developed models to predict the impact of disease risk on survival and stem quality.

Mariano was supported by a Fulbright Scholarship.

T. Austin Quate, MSc (2024)

Austin’s research utilized a provenance trial, comparing the biomass yield of families with varying seed transfer distance and cold hardiness (supported by the NCDA Bioenergy Research Initiative).