Cork oak genome is being decoded

The first results of the sequencing of the cork oak, Portugal’s National Tree, should be known by the end of 2015. The tree chosen for this research is planted on an estate in Montargil. The studies started in October 2012, at a cost of 1.13 million euros, 85% of which came from EU funds. The research has various goals. Some of the goals of the GenoSuber project are to identify the genes that activate when the cork oak fights against infections, find out more about this species and genetically improve it, select the trees with the most interesting features for the cork industry.