Advances in Forest Tree Genetics and Breeding

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 1725

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Interests: common research fields in forest trees; conventional breeding; breeding strategy; genetic engineering/genome editing and marker-assisted breeding

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Interests: genomics; genetic regulation; natural variation; marker-assisted breeding in forest trees

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forest trees are important resources that possess multiple values in ecological balance and economic development. They provide raw materials and products for various industries, such as timber, paper and furniture, to support local communities. The long-term health of forests needs to be enhanced by research outputs on forest tree genetics and breeding aiming to understand the genetic basis of complex traits. This field involves the study of genetic variation, identification/manipulation of genes or markers and the development of breeding strategies to improve important traits. The achievements of such studies are often attributed to the use of modern technologies such as high-throughput sequencing, genome editing and genome-wide association studies. This Special Issue will present the latest progress in the field of forest tree genetics and breeding, highlighting the potential of these studies in enhancing forest diversity, productivity and adaptability to changing environments.

Prof. Dr. Xiaohua Su
Dr. Yanguang Chu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • forest tree genetics and breeding
  • complex traits
  • genetic variation
  • genome editing
  • molecular markers
  • breeding strategy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 2597 KiB  
Communication
Screening and Functional Evaluation of Four Larix kaempferi Promoters
by Chen-Yi Zhang, Zha-Long Ye, Li-Wang Qi, Ling Yang and Wan-Feng Li
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2777; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192777 - 3 Oct 2024
Viewed by 782
Abstract
Promoters are powerful tools for breeding new varieties using transgenic technology. However, the low and unstable expression of target genes is still a limiting factor in Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr (Japanese larch) genetic transformation. In this study, we analyzed L. kaempferi transcriptome data, [...] Read more.
Promoters are powerful tools for breeding new varieties using transgenic technology. However, the low and unstable expression of target genes is still a limiting factor in Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr (Japanese larch) genetic transformation. In this study, we analyzed L. kaempferi transcriptome data, screened out highly expressed genes, cloned their promoters, and constructed plant expression vectors containing the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene driven by these promoters. Recombinant vectors were introduced into the L. kaempferi embryogenic callus by means of the Agrobacterium-mediated transient or stable genetic transformation method, and the promoter activity was then determined by measuring GUS expression and its enzyme activity in the transformed materials. Four highly expressed genes were identified: L. kaempferi Zhang Chen Yi-1 (LaZCY-1), Zhang Chen Yi-2 (LaZCY-2), Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein (LaTCTP), and ubiquitin (LaUBQ). The 2000 bp fragments upstream of ATG in these sequences were cloned as promoters and named pLaZCY-1, pLaZCY-2, pLaTCTP, and pLaUBQ. Semi-quantitative and quantitative RT-PCR analyses of transient genetic transformation materials showed that all four promoters could drive GUS expression, indicating that they have promoter activities. Semi-quantitative and quantitative RT-PCR analyses and the histochemical staining of stable genetic transformation materials showed that the pLaUBQ promoter had higher activity than the other three L. kaempferi promoters and the CaMV35S promoter. Thus, the pLaUBQ promoter was suggested to be used in larch genetic transformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Forest Tree Genetics and Breeding)
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16 pages, 2294 KiB  
Article
Economic Evaluation of Conservation through Use of an Araucaria angustifolia Provenance and Progeny Test
by José Arimatéia Rabelo Machado, Miguel Luiz Menezes Freitas, Daniela Ivana Paiva, Bruno Marchetti de Souza, Valderês Aparecida De Sousa, Karina Martins, Edilson Batista Oliveira and Ananda Virginia De Aguiar
Plants 2024, 13(18), 2580; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13182580 - 14 Sep 2024
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Abstract
Araucaria angustifolia is a species known for its valuable wood and nuts, but it is threatened with extinction. The plantation of forests for genetic resource conservation is a complementary strategy designed to reduce the species’ genetic variability loss. This study aimed to evaluate [...] Read more.
Araucaria angustifolia is a species known for its valuable wood and nuts, but it is threatened with extinction. The plantation of forests for genetic resource conservation is a complementary strategy designed to reduce the species’ genetic variability loss. This study aimed to evaluate the technical and economic viability of A. angustifolia for genetic conservation through use. The analyzed provenance and progeny trial was established in 1982 in Itapeva, Brazil. It was structured using a compact family blocks design with 110 open-pollinated progenies from five natural populations, three replicates, ten plants per subplot, and 3.0 m × 2.0 m spacing. After 33 years, the trial was evaluated for total height, diameter at breast height, wood volume, and survival. The variance components and genetic parameter estimates were performed using Restricted Maximum Likelihood/Best Linear Unbiased Prediction methods (REML/BLUP) methods with the Selegen software (version 2014). The production and management scenarios were obtained using the SisAraucaria software (version 2003). Sensitivity analysis and economic parameter estimates were obtained through various economic evaluation methods using the Planin software (version 1995). In general, the genetic parameters indicated that the population has enough variability for both conservation and breeding purposes, suggesting technical viability for the establishment of a seed orchard. The economic parameters indicated that the commercialization of wood and araucaria nuts proved to be more profitable than wood production by itself. In conclusion, araucaria genetic conservation through use is a technically and economically viable ex situ conservation strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Forest Tree Genetics and Breeding)
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