Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Forest Trees

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2025 | Viewed by 1397

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forests are the predominant terrestrial component on earth, providing abundant materials and energy for human beings. It is a crucial task of forestry work to breed improved varieties of trees with fast growth and stress resistance. However, the field of forestry biology has faced challenges due to the complex genomes, lengthy life cycles, and obstacles in regeneration and genetic transformation. The emergence of novel biotechnologies, such as high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNA seq), presents opportunities for advancing research in forestry. The urgent task at hand is to effectively integrate these technologies into plant systems and establish efficient and stable methods for enhancing woody plants, thereby addressing current limitations in forestry research. This special issue entitled “Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Forest Trees” will cover a variety of biotechnology and molecular research including plant tissue culture, cell engineering, genetic transformation and molecular genetic tools to deepen our understanding of biological processes such as tree growth and development, adaptation to abiotic and biotic stress, and coordination and trade-offs among various traits.

Prof. Dr. Chenghao Li
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • biotechnology

  • forest trees
  • genetic engineering
  • abiotic and biotic stress
  • molecular mechanism
  • multi-omics analysis

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

27 pages, 2386 KiB  
Review
Detection Methods for Pine Wilt Disease: A Comprehensive Review
by Sana Tahir, Syed Shaheer Hassan, Lu Yang, Miaomiao Ma and Chenghao Li
Plants 2024, 13(20), 2876; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13202876 - 14 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1178
Abstract
Pine wilt disease (PWD), caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a highly destructive forest disease that necessitates rapid and precise identification for effective management and control. This study evaluates various detection methods for PWD, including morphological diagnosis, molecular techniques, and remote [...] Read more.
Pine wilt disease (PWD), caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a highly destructive forest disease that necessitates rapid and precise identification for effective management and control. This study evaluates various detection methods for PWD, including morphological diagnosis, molecular techniques, and remote sensing. While traditional methods are economical, they are limited by their inability to detect subtle or early changes and require considerable time and expertise. To overcome these challenges, this study emphasizes advanced molecular approaches such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) coupled with CRISPR/Cas12a, which offer fast and accurate pathogen detection. Additionally, DNA barcoding and microarrays facilitate species identification, and proteomics can provide insights into infection-specific protein signatures. The study also highlights remote sensing technologies, including satellite imagery and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based hyperspectral analysis, for their capability to monitor PWD by detecting asymptomatic diseases through changes in the spectral signatures of trees. Future research should focus on combining traditional and innovative techniques, refining visual inspection processes, developing rapid and portable diagnostic tools for field application, and exploring the potential of volatile organic compound analysis and machine learning algorithms for early disease detection. Integrating diverse methods and adopting innovative technologies are crucial to effectively control this lethal forest disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in Forest Trees)
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