Dr. Annick Bertrand

Image Annick Bertrand
Research Scientist Physiology and Biochemistry of perennial crops

Abiotic stress resistance of perennial forage crops (temperature stress, salinity, climate change, ice, drought):

  • Development of new selection approaches for winter survival;
  • Identification of metabolites and cold-regulated genes associated with higher level of stress resistance;
  • Optimization of rhizobial symbiosis for improved stress resistance in alfalfa and other legume species;
  • Development of open-top chambers for long-term studies of CO2 increase in the field.

Improved nutritive value of forages

  • Increased energy concentration (starch, pectin, and soluble sugars including fructans);
  • Increased cell wall digestibility.

Increased forage yield

  • Development of new selection approaches for reduced fall dormancy in alfalfa.

Current research and/or projects

  • Résistance aux stress abiotiques (gel, salinité, glace, sécheresse, changements climatiques :1) Développement de nouvelles approches de sélection; 2) Identification de métabolites et de niveaux de transcrits liés à la résistance aux stress; 3) Optimisation de la symbiose avec la luzerne pour une meilleure résistance; 4) Développement d’un système à toit-ouvert pour l’étude à long terme des changements climatiques au champ.

  • Amélioration de la qualité nutritive: 1) Augmentation de la concentration en énergie des fourrages; 2) augmentation de la digestibilité des parois cellulaires

Augmentation des rendements : Développement de méthodes de sélection pour la réduction de la dormance automnale.

Professional activities / interests

Member of the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists

Member of the Comité Plantes fourragèers du CRAAQ

Key publications

  1. Bertrand, A., Claessens, A., Rocher, S. 2018. Breeding alfalfa for cold tolerance in Canada. Présentation orale. 2nd Alfalfa World Conference. Còrdoba, Argentine 11-14 November.

    2018 - View publication details

  2. Azaiez, A., Beaudoin Nadeau, M., Bertrand, A., Khasa, D.P. (2018). In vitro selection of ecologically adapted ectomycorrhizal fungi through production of fungal biomass and metabolites for use in reclamation of biotite mine tailings. Mycologia, [online] 110(6), 1017-1032. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2018.1520036

    2018 - View publication details

  3. Saïed, N., M. Khelifi, A. Bertrand, M. Aider et G.F. Tremblay. 2018. Effet du taux de sucre résiduel sur l’ensilabilité de la bagasse du sorgho et du millet perlé sucrés. Présentation orale de l’étudiante à la maitrise de Dr Bertrand faite aux Journées du Centre Sève, 1 et 2 novembre, Mont-Orford.

    2018 - View publication details

  4. Bélanger, G., Thivierge, M.-N., Tremblay, G., Claessens, A., Bertrand, A., Lajeunesse, J. et Seguin, P. 2018. Améliorer le ratio Énergie / Protéines des fourrages servis aux vaches laitières. Affiche présentée au Symposium sur les Bovins laitiers. Drummondville, 30 octobre.

    2018 - View publication details

  5. A. Bertrand, A. Claessens, S. Rocher, V. Baron. Breeding alfalfa for cold tolerance and low dormancy. Présentation orale au 11th International Plant Growth Hardiness Conference (IPCHS), Wisconsin, USA

    2018 - View publication details

  6. Bertrand, A., Claessens, A., Thivierge, M.N., Rocher, S., Lajeunesse, J., Castonguay, Y., Seguin, P. (2018). Field assessment of alfalfa populations recurrently selected for stem cell wall digestibility. Crop Science, [online] 58(4), 1632-1643. http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2018.02.0119

    2018 - View publication details

  7. Solen Rocher, Josée Michaud, Annie Claessens, Marie-Noëlle Thivierge, Annick Bertrand. 2018. Candidate genes associated with increased concentration of fermentable sugars in alfalfa. North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference, Logan, Utah 4-6 June 2018.

    2018 - View publication details

  8. A Bertrand, A Claessens, M-N Thivierge, S Rocher, J Lajeunesse, P Seguin. Field validation of the improvement of alfalfa stem cell wall digestibility by recurrent selection. NAAIC, Utah.

    2018 - View publication details

  9. Bertrand, A. Claessens, A., Rocher, S. 2018. An Indoor screening method for reduced dormancy in alfalfa, In : Brazauskas, G., Statkeviciute, G. Janaviciene, K. (eds) Breeding grasses and protein crops in the era of genomics. Springer International Publishing. pp.209-214

    2018 - View publication details

  10. Dion, P.P., Jämtgård, S., Bertrand, A., Pepin, S., Dorais, M. (2018). Organic nitrogen uptake and assimilation in cucumis sativus using position-specific labeling and compound-specific isotope analysis. Frontiers in Plant Science, [online] 871 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01596

    2018 - View publication details

  11. Keim, J.P., Cabanilla, J., Balocchi, O.A., Pulido, R.G., Bertrand, A. (2018). In vitro fermentation and in situ rumen degradation kinetics of summer forage brassica plants. Animal Production Science, [online] 59(7), 1271-1280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN17534

    2018 - View publication details

  12. Bertrand, A., Thivierge, MN, Audy, P., Claessens, A. 2017. Forage production and research in Canada. Preserntation at the Joint workshop of the AAFC Yangzhou University Joint laboratory in Agriculture Sciences. November 9. 2017, CRDQ, Québec City

    2017 - View publication details

  13. Bertrand, A., Thivierge, M-N, Claessens, A, and Audy, P. 2017 Milk from forages. Presentation Joint workshop of the AAFC Yangzhou University Joint laboratory in Agricutural Sciences. Ottawa, November 7 2017

    2017 - View publication details

  14. Bertrand, A., Bipfubusa, M., Claessens, A., Rocher, S., Castonguay, Y. (2017). Effect of photoperiod prior to cold acclimation on freezing tolerance and carbohydrate metabolism in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Plant Science, [online] 264 122-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.09.003

    2017 - View publication details

  15. Claessens, A., F. Langevin, I. Royer, A. Cambouris, D. Angers, N. Ziadi, and A. Bertrand. 2017.
    Method for screening Cu, Zn or Pb phytotoxicity on switchgrass and reed canarygrass. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2017 Tampa 2017/10/22 - 2017/10/25

    2017 - View publication details

  16. Claessens Annie, François Langevin, Annick Bertrand, and Solen Rocher. 2017. Development of an indoor freezing tolerance test for switchgrass. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2017. Tampa, Oct 22-25 2017.

    2017 - View publication details

  17. Thivierge, M.-N., Audy, P., Bélanger, G., Claessens, A., Bertrand, A., Rocher, S., Tremblay, G., Jégo, G., and Lajeunesse, J. 2017. Systèmes racinaires: la force cachée! Congrès de l’Ordre des Agronomes du Québec (OAQ), Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, September 21, 2017

    2017 - View publication details

  18. Annick Bertrand, Annie Claessens and Solen Rocher. 2017. An indoor screening method for reduced fall dormancy in alfalfa. Eucarpia, Vilnius, Lithuania, 11-14 September 2017.

    2017 - View publication details

  19. Loaiza, P.A., Balocchi, O., Bertrand, A. (2017). Carbohydrate and crude protein fractions in perennial ryegrass as affected by defoliation frequency and nitrogen application rate. Grass and Forage Science, [online] 72(3), 556-567. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12258

    2017 - View publication details

  20. Christie, B. C., Baron, V. S., Young, D., Ohama, A. J., Schellenberg, M., Bertrand, A., and Claessens, A. Genetic relationships between winter-hardy alfalfa varieties. Poster presentation. Cow-Forage Gentec Tour. August 22, 2017. Lacombe Research and Development Centre. Lacombe, AB.

    2017 - View publication details

Research facility

2560 Hochelaga Boulevard
Québec, QC G1V 2J3
Canada

Affiliations

Adjunct professor Université Laval

Adjunct professor McGill University

Language

English
French

Other languages

Spanish