Nicholas K. Ukrainetz

Dr. Nicholas K. Ukrainetz

nukraine@hotmail.com

Projects

Integrating genomic selection into the lodgepole pine breeding program in British Columbia

Research Interests

Tree breeding programs for northern conifers have very long generation times that can span decades depending on the target trait. A typical tree breeding program has three stages: breeding to create new allele combinations and allow recombination to occur, testing of the target trait and selection, and a period of time for the new selections to become sexually mature before breeding can begin. Genomic selection is a new tool being used by breeders in various fields to minimize the testing time in the breeding cycle thus shortening the generation time. Implementing genomic selection in an operational tree breeding program will depend on the trade-off between accuracy of the predictions and shorter generation times.

Education

PhD – Forestry, University of British Columbia (2020)

MSc – Wood Science and Forest Genetics, University of British Columbia (2006)
Thesis: Quantitative genetics and QTL mapping of growth and wood quality traits in coastal Douglas-fir
Supervisor: Dr. Shawn Mansfield, Wood Science Department

BSc (Honours) – Forest Genetics, University of British Columbia (2002)
Thesis: The northern range of western white pine in relation to its ability to compete and produce viable seed
Supervisor: Dr. Sally Aitken, Forest Science Department

Selected Publications and Conference Presentations

Ukrainetz NK & Mansfield SD. (2020). Assessing the sensitivities of genomic selection for growth and wood quality traits in lodgepole pine using Bayesian models. Tree Genetics & Genomes16(1), 1-19.

Ukrainetz NK, Yanchuk A, Mansfield SD (2015). Poster Presentation: Assessing patterns of genotype-by-environment interactions to aid planning for integrating genomic selection into tree breeding programs. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Tree Biotechnology Conference: June 8 – 12, 2015; Florence, Italy.

Ukrainetz NK, O’Neill GA, Jaquish B (2011). Comparison of fixed and focal point seed transfer systems for reforestation and assisted migration: a case study for interior spruce in British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 41: 1452-1464.

Ukrainetz NK, O’Neill GA (2010). An analysis of sensitivities contributing measurement error to Resistograph values. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 40: 806-811.

Robinson RR, Dauwe R, Ukrainetz NK, Cullis IF, White R, Mansfield SD (2009). Predicting the regenerative capacity of conifer somatic embryogenic cultures by metabolomics. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 7: 952-963

Stoehr MU, Ukrainetz NK, Hayton LK, Yanchuk AD (2009). Current and future trends in juvenile wood density for coastal Douglas-fir. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 39: 1415-1419.

O’Neill GA, Ukrainetz NK, Carlson MR, Cartwright CV, Jaquish BC, King JN, Krakowski J, Russell JH, Stoehr MU, Xie C, Yanchuk AD (2008). Assisted migration to address climate change in BC: recommendations for interim seed transfer standards. B.C. Min. For. Range, Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 048. www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Tr/Tr048.htm.

Ukrainetz NK, Kang K-Y, Aitken SN, Stoehr M, Mansfield SD (2008). Heritability, phenotypic and genetic correlations of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) wood quality traits. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 38: 1536-1546.

Ukrainetz NK, Ritland K, Mansfield SD (2008). Identification of quantitativetrait loci for wood quality and growth across eight full-sib coastal Douglas-fir families. Tree Genetics and Genomes. 4: 159-170.

Ukrainetz NK, Ritland K, Mansfield SD (2008). An AFLP linkage map for Douglas-fir based upon multiple full-sib families. Tree Genetics and Genomes. 4: 181-191.

Robinson AR, Ukrainetz NK, Kang K-Y Mansfield SD (2007). A comprehensive metabolomics analysis of two Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) progeny test trials. New Phytologist. 174: 762-773.

Ukrainetz NK, Ritland K, Aitken SN, Kang K-Y , Mansfield SD. (2007). Oral Presentation. Douglas-fir wood density: molecular and quantitative results. Joint Meeting of the Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference and Western Forest Genetics Association: June 19-22, 2007; Galveston, Texas.

Ukrainetz NK, Yanchuk AD (2007). Oral Presention. Environmental effects on relative wood density in lodgepole pine and strategies for improved growth and density breeds. Joint Meeting of the Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference and Western Forest Genetics Association: June 19-22, 2007; Galveston, Texas.

Phenotypic and genetic correlations of commercially important wood quality traits in Coastal Douglas-fir. Western Forest Genetics Association Conference: July 18 – July 21, 2005; Corvallis, Oregon; Student Presentation.

Awards, Grants, Scholarships

  • NSERC Graduate Student Award – Postgraduate Scholarshop, UBC
  • NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA NSERC), UBC
  • Graduate Entrance Scholarship, UBC Forestry
  • George S Allen Memorial Scholarship, UBC Forestry
  • William John Splan Scholarship in Forestry, UBC Forestry
  • Hugh Robert Duncan Chisholm Scholarship in Forestry, UBC Forestry
  • Galt Elkington Memorial Scholarship, UBC Forestry
  • Charles and Jane Banks Scholarship, UBC Forestry
  • H R MacMillan Scholarship in Forestry, UBC Forestry
  • Truck Loggers Association Scholarship, UBC Forestry