Dr. Oliver Caré

06/2016 - 2020 Promotionsstudium
Abteilung für Forstgenetik und Forstpflanzenzüchtung, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
10/2013 – 02/2016 M.Sc. Forstwissenschaften und Waldökologie
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
10/2009 – 01/2013 B.Sc. Forstwissenschaft und Ressourcenmanagement
Technische Universität München - Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan, Freising


Current Project
HerKüTaSaat
The coastal fir is one of the most important alternative tree species for Germany, with great potential for sustainably securing all forest functions. This is particularly true in light of predicted climate change. We want to lay the genetic foundations for establishing the coastal fir as a high-yielding and ecologically compatible tree species over a larger area. This requires genetic methods and procedures that characterize the geographical/genetic variation in the North American area of origin and compare this reference with existing stands in Germany. The aim of this comparison is to determine the provenance of German stands and to assess the adaptive potential of these stands in comparison to their regions of origin. This is done with a view to producing propagation material that, based on a sufficiently variable gene pool and excluding unsuitable provenances, lays the best possible foundations for the cultivation of this tree species in Germany.
The selection of plus trees will be carried out in existing trial areas and in the stands characterized within the framework of the project. The selection will be based on the genetic data compiled in the project, so that in addition to the classic phenotypic plus tree criteria (in particular growth performance, quality, vitality, and health), genetic aspects (especially adaptive potential and genetic variability) will also be taken into account. Genetic adaptability is particularly important in the context of climate change.



The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe, FNR, funding code: 2220NR313A).



Publications

Caré, O.; Müller, M.; Vornam, B.; Höltken, A.; Kahlert, K.; Krutovsky, K.; Gailing, O.; Leinemann, L. (2018) High Morphological Differentiation in Crown Architecture Contrasts with Low Population Genetic Structure of German Norway Spruce Stands. FORESTS 9 (12), 752, doi:10.3390/f9120752.

Caré, O.; Gailing, O.; Müller, M.; Krutovsky, K. V.; Leinemann, L. (2020) Crown morphology in Norway spruce (Picea abies [Karst.] L.) as adaptation to mountainous environments is associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes regulating seasonal growth rhythm. Tree Genetics and Genomes 16:4. doi: 10.1007/s11295-019-1394-x

Caré O., Gailing O., Müller M., Krutovsky K. V., Leinemann L. (2020) Mating System in a Native Norway Spruce ( Picea abies [L.] KARST.) Stand-Relatedness and Effective Pollen Population Size Show an Association with the Germination Percentage of Single Tree Progenies. Diversity 12:266. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/7/266

Caré O., Kuchma O., Hosius B., Voth W., Thurm E.A., Leinemann L. (2023) Patterns of genetic variation and the potential origin of sweet chestnut ( Castanea sativa Mill.) stands far from its natural northern distribution edge. Silvae Genetica 72:200–210. [online] URL: https://www.sciendo.com/article/10.2478/sg-2023-0020

Caré O., Chano V., Erley M., Rogge M., Gailing O. (2024) Circadian rhythm and redox homeostasis candidate genes showed association with shallow elevation in Norway spruce. Plant Biology 26:508–520. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/plb.13642

Götz J., Leinemann L., Gailing O., Hardtke A., Caré O. (2024) Development of a highly polymorphic chloroplast SSR set in (Abies grandis) with transferability to other conifer species—A promising toolkit for gene flow investigations. Ecology and Evolution 14:1–11.