Justin Whitehill

Bio

Dr. Whitehill leads the Christmas Tree Genetics (CTG) program, which is a research program housed in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. The CTG program’s mission is to serve the tree breeding and Christmas tree genetic resource needs of the Christmas Tree industry in the state and nationally through coordinated research, extension and outreach activities. Our research leverages the disciplines of forest genetics, forest health, genomics, and chemical ecology to support the health, productivity, and long-term sustainability of the Christmas tree industry. The CTG program is responsible for research activities that engage participation from entities with interests in the long-term success of the Christmas tree industry including the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA), NC Christmas Tree Association (NCCTA), Eastern NC Christmas Tree Growers Association (ENCCTGA), North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) and Christmas tree growers throughout NC. Research projects relate to developing novel genomics/genetic tools to screen tree genotypes and identify elite individuals with enhanced pest/pathogen resistance, climate resilience, aroma characteristics, needle retention and added value to the industry. Major research focus will be on gene and mechanism discovery to improve Christmas trees through genomic approaches. Addressed through projects of population genetics, host-pathogen/insect interactions, genomic resources, biochemical analyses, microscopy, and the CTG Fraser fir breeding program. Dr. Whitehill also serves as the Co-director of the Forest Biotechnology Group with Dr. Jack Wang at NC State University.

Professional Affiliations

• American Society of Plant Biologists (2017-Present)
• Entomological Society of America (2008-Present)
• International Society of Chemical Ecology (2009, 2011, 2014)

Publications

• A Protoplast System for CRISPR-Cas Ribonucleoprotein Delivery in Pinus taeda and Abies fraseri , PLANTS-BASEL (2025)
• Distinct terpene metabolite blends serve as core drivers of consumer aroma preferences in fir Christmas tree species , SCIENTIFIC REPORTS (2025)
• Evaluating the post-harvest survival and emergence of elongate hemlock scale from Fraser fir Christmas trees , JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY (2025)
• Potential for Elite Veneer Poplar on Marginal Phytophthora spp.-Infected Christmas Tree Lands , PLANT DISEASE (2025)
• A phoenix glimmers within the ashes: generalized defensive traits suggest hope for plants under attack by invasive pests , NEW PHYTOLOGIST (2023)
• Transcriptome features of stone cell development in weevil-resistant and susceptible Sitka spruce , NEW PHYTOLOGIST (2023)
• Spruce giga‐genomes: structurally similar yet distinctive with differentially expanding gene families and rapidly evolving genes , The Plant Journal (2022)
• The genome of the forest insect pest Pissodes strobi reveals genome expansion and evidence of a Wolbachia endosymbiont , G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS (2022)
• Constitutive and insect‐induced transcriptomes of weevil‐resistant and susceptible Sitka spruce , Plant-Environment Interactions (2021)
• Gymnosperm glandular trichomes: expanded dimensions of the conifer terpenoid defense system , Scientific Reports (2020)