TreeBioTEC

    Upcoming Inaugural Lecture by ERA Chair Prof. Yrjö Eero Helariutta

    The TreeBioTEC project is pleased to announce the upcoming inaugural lecture of ERA Chair Prof. Yrjö Eero Helariutta, a leading figure in plant developmental biology worldwide. The lecture will take place on Tuesday, 10 February 2026 at 16:15 in the University of Tartu Assembly Hall (Ülikooli 18).Full details are available in the official University of Tartu announcement:https://ut.ee/en/news/professor-yrjo-helariutta-presents-potential-tree-biology-dendroengineering-his-inaugural. Titled “From Tree Biology to Dendroengineering”, the lecture will introduce Prof. Helariutta’s scientific vision and highlight the research directions that underpin the TreeBioTEC project’s mission. The event is organised by the University of Tartu and will be held in English. A live stream…

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    Guest Lecture by Dr Hiroyuki Iida on Plant Barrier Regeneration

    On 12 November 2025, Dr Hiroyuki Iida (University of Helsinki) delivered a guest lecture at the Institute of Bioengineering, University of Tartu, within the framework of TreeBioTEC activities.The lecture focused on how plants monitor and maintain barrier integrity, highlighting gas diffusion as a key signalling mechanism in mature roots. Recent high-impact research on barrier tissue regeneration was presented.The event contributed to scientific exchange in plant developmental biology and supported TreeBioTEC’s aim to build expertise relevant to tree bioengineering.

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    Media Interview with Prof. Chung-Jui (CJ) Tsai in ERR Novaator

    Following her visit to the University of Tartu, Prof. Chung-Jui (CJ) Tsai was featured in an interview published on 13 October 2025 in ERR Novaator, Estonia’s leading science communication portal. The interview was organised by TreeBioTEC Coordinator Prof. Hannes Kollist and introduced both Prof. Tsai’s pioneering research in forest biotechnology and the TreeBioTEC ERA Chair project, funded by the European Union. The article explained the aims of TreeBioTEC — to establish a new forest biotechnology laboratory at the University of Tartu — and highlighted international collaboration in tree bioengineering.

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    Guest Lectures by Tree Biotechnology Pioneer Prof. Chung-Jui Tsai at the University of Tartu

    In early October 2025, Prof. Chung-Jui (CJ) Tsai, W.N. Haynes Professor of Forest Biotechnology at the University of Georgia, delivered two guest lectures at the Institute of Bioengineering, University of Tartu, at the invitation of the TreeBioTEC ERA Chair team. Her lectures addressed cutting-edge approaches in tree biotechnology, focusing on in vitro flowering systems for reproductive trait engineering in poplar and on the promises and challenges of multiplex genome editing in forest trees.The visit contributed to knowledge exchange in advanced tree bioengineering and strengthened international scientific connections within the TreeBioTEC project.

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    Lecture by ERA Chair Holder Prof. Yrjö Eero Helariutta on Root Development

    On 2 October 2025, Prof. Yrjö Eero Helariutta, ERA Chair Holder of the TreeBioTEC project, delivered a lecture entitled “Root Development. Radial Patterning” at the Institute of Bioengineering, University of Tartu.The lecture was held within the Plant Physiology course and addressed fundamental mechanisms of root development and tissue patterning.This teaching activity contributed to the dissemination of core scientific expertise within the academic community and supported the integration of TreeBioTEC research themes into university education.

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    Guest Lecture by Dr Jarkko Salojärvi on the Genomic Drivers of Plant Diversity

    On 2 October 2025, Dr Jarkko Salojärvi (Nanyang Technological University; University of Helsinki Centre of Excellence in Tree Biology) delivered a guest lecture at the Institute of Bioengineering, University of Tartu, as part of the TreeBioTEC project activities.The lecture explored how large-scale genome sequencing and computational analyses can reveal evolutionary drivers of plant diversity and functional adaptation in forest communities.The event supported the dissemination of high-level plant genomics research and fostered academic exchange between TreeBioTEC and international experts.

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    Keynote Lecture by ERA Chair Holder Prof. Ykä Helariutta at FTMB 2025 (Harbin, China)

    Prof. Yrjö Eero Helariutta, ERA Chair Holder of the TreeBioTEC project, participated in The 3rd Forest Tree Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Conference (FTMB 2025) held on 4–6 August 2025 in Harbin, China. He delivered a keynote lecture entitled “Understanding and Engineering Wood Formation”, presenting recent research progress on the role of the thermospermine polyamine in regulating cell fate decisions in xylem, as well as advances in integrating and analysing the effects of callose polymer in wood formation. The conference was hosted by Northeast Forestry University and brought together international experts in forest tree molecular biology and biotechnology.

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    Inclusion of TreeBioTEC Infrastructure in the Estonian Research Infrastructures Roadmap Project

    Within the framework of the Estonian Research Infrastructures Roadmap programme, the project “Plant Biology and Valorization Infrastructure” (TARISTU24-TK28, 2024–2029) received national funding under the leadership of Associate Professor Hanna Hõrak, University of Tartu. The TreeBioTEC project served as the basis for including the ERA Chair laboratory infrastructure needs in this national initiative. As a result, the TreeBioTEC team has been allocated a dedicated budget line for laboratory infrastructure support within the TARISTU24-TK28 project.

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    Scientific Seminar by prof. Ykä Helariutta: “On a Two-Way Street between Arabidopsis and Tree Research”

    In February 2025, Prof. Yrjö Eero Helariutta, the ERA Chair Holder of the TreeBioTEC project, delivered a public scientific seminar at the University of Tartu. During the seminar, he presented his laboratory’s work on using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system for understanding tree biology, focusing on vascular development. He described several key discoveries, including the role of cytokinin phytohormone signalling in controlling cambial development and callose (β-1,3-glucan) as a spacer in cell walls, which have subsequently been tested in trees. More recently, his group began applying a genetic approach in Betula trees to study branch development, identifying new concepts…

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    Preparatory Kick-off Meetings Set the Stage for TreeBioTEC Project Launch

    Before the official start of the TreeBioTEC ERA Chair project on March 1, 2025, two preparatory kick-off meetings were held at the Institute of Bioengineering, University of Tartu, to ensure a smooth transition into the execution phase. These meetings took place on November 2024 and February 13, 2025, at Nooruse 1 in Tartu.The purpose of these sessions was to align institutional leadership and key stakeholders on the project’s scope, objectives, governance structure, and initial implementation plan. At the time, the ERA Chair Research Group and Project Manager had not yet been recruited, making it essential to clarify roles and responsibilities…

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