The research at the competence centre concentrated on the basic biology and chemistry underlying important traits in forest tree development and use. All research conducted was organized into the three task forces with their particular research focus
Some research groups that were involved in the competence centre:
- Bakó, Lazlo - Control of Plant Cell Division and Differentiation
- Bellini, Catherine - Control of Adventitious Root Initiation and Phloem Function
- Bhalerao, Rishikesh P - Seasonal Control of Growth in Perennial Plants and Regulation of Cell Elongation
- Egertsdotter, Ulrika - Somatic Embryogenesis (SE) in Conifers
- Eriksson, Maria E - Circadian Clock Function and its Importance for the Regulation of Growth
- Ganeteg, Ulrika - Molecular Physiology of Plant Nitrogen Nutrition
- García-Gil, María Rosario - Forest Tree Genetics and Breeding
- Hurry, Vaughan - Plant Adaptation to Sub-Optimal Environments
- Hvidsten, Torgeir R - Systems Biology Analysis of Regulatory Networks in Plants
- Ingvarsson, Pär - The Genetic Basis of Ecologically Important Traits
- Jansson, Stefan - Light, Senescence and Natural Variation
- Ljung, Karin - Root Development and Shoot-Root Communication
- Mellerowicz, Ewa - Wood Matrix Polysaccharides: Biosynthesis and Modification
- Moritz, Thomas - Hormonal Control of Shoot Elongation and Wood Formation
- Niittylä, Totte - Carbohydrate Metabolism and Cell Wall Biosynthesis
- Nilsson, Ove - Control of Flowering Time and Meristem Identity
- Nordin, Annika - Ecophysiological Forest Management
- Näsholm, Torgny - Ecophysiology and Molecular Biology of Plant Organic N Nutrition
- Strand, Åsa - Organelle-to-Nucleus Signalling Pathways
- Sundberg, Björn - Wood Formation
- Trygg, Johan - Combined Profiling in Poplar using a Systems Biology Approach
- Tuominen, Hannele - Xylem Maturation and Wood Properties
- Wingsle, Gunnar - Regulatory Proteins in the Lignocellulosic pathway in Wood studied by Proteomics