DAINIS EDGARS RUNGIS

DAINIS EDGARS RUNGIS Genetic Resource Centre, Latvian State Forestry Research Institute "Silava" Rigas iela 111, Salaspils, LV-2169 Latvia Phone +371 67949945 Email: dainis.rungis@silava.lv

Born: June 26, 1972

Interests:

• Molecular biology, genetics and genomics
• Forest tree species population genetics
• Genetic resources characterisation, management and utilisation

Languages: Latvian, English

Education:

• 2002 PhD (plant molecular biology) University of Sydney (in conjunction with CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, Australia "Development of DNA markers in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)"
• 1996 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Genetics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Employment:

• 2006-present: Leading researcher, Head of Genetic Resource Centre, LSFRI Silava
• 2002-2005: Research Associate, Section leader - DNA marker development in spruce, GenomeBC/University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada)

Professional activities:

• 2010 - European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR) National coordinator for Latvia.
• 2009 - Latvian Ministry of Agriculture Genetic Resource Council member.
• 2006 - - LSFRI "Silava" Scientific council member.

Selected publications:

• Gailite A., Gaile A., Gaile I., Voronova A., Veinberga I., Kokare A., Rungis D. (2013) Genotypic assessment of the Latvian rye (Secale cereale L.) collection. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact and Applied Sciences. 67: 264-267
• Gailite A., Rungis D. (2012) An initial investigation of the taxonomic status of Saussurea esthonica Baer ex Rupr. utilising DNA markers and sequencing. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 298: 913-919
• Rungis D., Gaile I., Veinberga I., Zute S., Strazdiòa V., Bleidere M., Kronberga A. (2012) Use of DNA markers for cereal line uniformity assessment. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact and Applied Sciences. 66: 21-25
• Lacis G., I. Kota, L. Ikase, D. Rungis (2011) Molecular characterization of the Latvian apple (Malus) genetic resource collection based on SSR markers and scab resistance gene Vf analysis. Plant Genetic Resources 9: 189-192
• Skipars V., D. Ruòìis (2011) Detection of Heterobasidion annosum in Scots Pine trees using a polymerase chain reaction based method. Baltic Forestry, Vol. 17, No. 1 (32) pp 2-7
• Gailite A., Rungis D., Ievins G. (2010) Preliminary studies on the genetic diversity of an endemic and endangered species Saussurea esthonica Baer ex Rupr. in Latvia. Acta Biol. Univ. Daugavp., 10(1): 37-42.
• Pliura A, Rungis D, Baliuckas V. (2009) Population Structure of Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.) in Lithuania Based on Analysis of Chloroplast DNA Haplotypes and Adaptive Traits. Baltic Forestry 15:2-12.
• Zhuk A, Veinberga I, Daugavietis M and Rungis D. (2008) Cross-species amplification of Betula pendula Simple Sequence repeat markers in Alnus spp. Baltic Forestry 14: 116-121.
• Bérubé Y, Zhuang J, Rungis D, Ralph S, Bohlmann J and Ritland K (2007) Characterization of EST-SSRs in loblolly pine and spruce. Tree Genetics and Genomes, 3: 251-259.
• Rungis D, Hamberger B, Bérubé Y, Wilkin J, Bohlmann J and Ritland K (2005) Efficient genetic mapping of single nucleotide polymorphisms based upon DNA mismatch digestion. Molecular Breeding, 16:261-270.
• Rungis D, Bérubé Y, Zhuang J, Ralph S, Ritland CE, Ellis BE, Douglas C, Bohlmann J and Ritland K (2004) Robust simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for spruce (Picea spp.) from expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 109:1283-1294.
• Rungis D, Llewellyn D, Dennis ES and Lyon BR (2005) Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers reveal low levels of polymorphism between cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 53: 551-560.
• Rungis D, Llewellyn D, Dennis ES and Lyon BR (2002) Investigation of the chromosomal location of the bacterial blight resistance gene present in an Australian cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivar. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 53: 551-560.

Research projects:

• 2013- : Latvian Council of Science project "Investigation of molecular defence mechanisms in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)" Project leader
• 2010-2012: European Social Fund project Program "Human resources and employment" activity 1.1.1.2. "Involvement of human resources in science" "Consolidating research capacity in fruit gardening and forestry by using IT support in search for environment-friendly cultivation and product development methods" (Nr.2009/0228/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/035) (activity 3.2 leader)
• 2010-2012: European Social Fund project Program "Human resources and employment" activity 1.1.1.2. "Involvement of human resources in science" „Importance of Genetic Factors on Formation of Forest Stands with High Adaptability and Qualitative Wood Properties" (2009/0200/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/146).
• 2011-2012: Forestry Priority Competence Centre project "Developing innovative forest cultivation technologies for strengthening the efficiency and competitiveness of forestry production" subproject "Molecular research on birch wood discoloration"
• 2012: Forest Development Fund project „Preparation of Latvian spruce Picea abies samples for SNP genotyping. Project leader
• 2010-2012: Latvian Council of Science cooperation project „Latvian renewable raw materials - study of the properties flax and hemp products, the use of innovative technologies and the development of new functional materials"
• 2010-2012: State research program project nr. 5.2 „New products and innovative forest management, timber and non-timber forest products manufacturing technologies, rational use of forest resources and increase in value-added products" Sub-project nr. 2.1 "Innovative technologies for forest cultivation forest productivity and forest competitiveness"
• 2010-2011: Latvian and Belarusian scientific cooperation agreement ''Latvian and Belarusian oak (Quercus robur L.) population genetic structure and origin analysis.'' Ministry of Education and Science. Project Leader.

Last update 21.10.2013