My group has established an internationally recognized program in plant and forestry genomics and in plant natural products biology. One major focus of my research is on genomics of defense and resistance mechanisms of conifers against insect pests and insect-associated fungal pathogens. The second major focus of my program is on terpenoid biochemistry in plants. Much of the research in my laboratory deals with plant natural products, in particular the genomics, molecular biochemistry and biology of plant terpenoids. Practical applications of my research on terpenoids are being developed in collaboration with industry, involving patenting and licensing of technologies developed in our laboratory. Discoveries from my program in forestry genomics are being developed into applications in tree breeding and tree improvement. Practical applications from our work on the mountain pine beetle system are realized in the form of decision support for stakeholders in government and industry.

Research and training program of the Bohlmann lab:

• Conifer genomics
• Forest health genomics
• Mountain pine beetle / fungus / pine interactions and genomics
• Chemical ecology of conifer / insect interactions
• Plant secondary metabolism
• Terpenoids, terpene synthases, cytochromes P450
• Diterpene resin acids
• Terpenoid fragrances
• Plant bio-product enzymes
• Functional genomics of diterpene pathways
• Sandalwood oil biosynthesis
• Grapevine genomics
• Grapevine & wine chemicals: terpenoids

Technical expertise and technologies of the Bohlmann lab:

• Genomics
• Bioinformatics for genome and transcriptome analyses
• Transcriptome analysis by RNA-seq, qRT-PCR
• Metabolite profiling by GCMS and LCMS
• cDNA cloning
• Recombinant protein expression
• Enzyme discovery and enzyme characterization
• Mass spectrometry and analysis of small molecules
• Laser capture microdissection

Applications of research and discoveries of the Bohlmann Lab through

• Collaborations with industry
• Collaborations with government
• Patenting of new technologies
• Licensing of new technologies