Latest Progress in Research on Forest Tree Genomics

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics and Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 1651

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Interests: specific organ development of woody plants; organ abortion and abscission

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Guest Editor
College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Interests: wood formation; forestry biotech; synthetic biology

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Guest Editor
College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Interests: plant cell wall synthesis; plant development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forests are the main body of terrestrial ecosystems, which provide the basic material foundation and living environment for humans. Global climate change and sustained population growth are increasingly threatening the stability of forest ecosystems. Thus, there is a dire need to improve forest productivity, adaptability, resilience and sustainability to challenge this situation. Forest genomics is believed to play a crucial role in this process. As with agriculture, genomics-based methods have the potential to significantly facilitate genetic breeding in tree species. The productivity and adaptability of woody plants can be improved by modifying one or more genes in their genome.

Forest genomic has identified a number of effective genetic markers and genes in molecular breeding, especially the key genes regulating forest-specific traits. Increasing information concerning forest genomics can answer many unique and interesting biological questions about tree species, including their unusual reproductive characteristics, woody and perennial growth habits, and their response mechanisms to abiotic and biotic stresses. Moreover, forest tree genomics will provide new insights into organ development, carbon sink, longevity and population genetics, which is critical for developing the pertinent strategies to protect and utilize forest resources.

In this Special Issue, we aim to provide an overview of the latest progress in research on forest tree genomics from around the world, which will highlight the important theoretical and practical significance of genomics and molecular biology in forestry.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Wood formation;
  • Genetic improvement in forest trees mediated via gene editing technique;
  • Genome, transcriptome, metabolome and proteome analysis in tree species;
  • Establishment of genetic transformation and regeneration system of forest trees;
  • Molecular marker-assisted breeding of tree species.

Dr. Meng Li
Dr. Hao Chen
Dr. Ting Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • tree
  • genomics
  • wood formation
  • transcriptome
  • forest ecology
  • genetic diversity of tree species
  • molecular markers of tree species

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 7178 KiB  
Article
CsAFS2 Gene from the Tea Plant Intercropped with Chinese Chestnut Plays an Important Role in Insect Resistance and Cold Resistance
by Jianzhao Wang, Mei Dao, Ziyun Yang, Yan Bai, Ying Qin and Tian Wu
Forests 2024, 15(2), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020380 - 18 Feb 2024
Viewed by 620
Abstract
α-Farnesene, a crucial secondary metabolite in sesquiterpenes, is crucial for plant biotic and abiotic stress resistance. In this study, we screened an AFS gene from transcriptome data of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) intercropped with Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), resulting [...] Read more.
α-Farnesene, a crucial secondary metabolite in sesquiterpenes, is crucial for plant biotic and abiotic stress resistance. In this study, we screened an AFS gene from transcriptome data of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) intercropped with Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), resulting in the cloning of CsAFS2. CsAFS2 expression increased following treatment with MJ (Methyl jasmonate), SA (Salicylic acid), GA3 (Gibberellin A3), and various plant growth regulators, as well as under high-salt, drought, and low-temperature conditions. The heterologous genetic transformation of tobacco with CsAFS2 led to an enhanced resistance to low-temperature stress and aphid feeding, evident from elevated levels of osmotic regulatory substances, increased protective enzyme activity, and the upregulation of cold and insect resistance-related genes. Trichomes, crucial in cold and insect resistance, exhibited significantly greater length and density in transgenic tobacco as compared to control plants. These results confirm the vital role of CsAFS2 in enhancing cold and insect resistance, providing comprehensive insights into stress regulation mechanisms in tea plants and advancing stress-resistant tea plant breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Progress in Research on Forest Tree Genomics)
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11 pages, 5385 KiB  
Communication
A Type A Response Regulator Is Involved in Growth in Salix Matsudana Koidz
by Peng Yin, Lei Wang, Junkang Zhang, Xue Wang, Di Wu and Jichen Xu
Forests 2024, 15(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010004 - 19 Dec 2023
Viewed by 714
Abstract
The cytokinin signaling pathway is important for plant growth and development. To understand the regulatory process, a type A response regulator, SmRR5, in Salix matsudana Koidz., was characterized and functionally analyzed. Gene expression tests showed that SmRR5 was distinctly higher in the [...] Read more.
The cytokinin signaling pathway is important for plant growth and development. To understand the regulatory process, a type A response regulator, SmRR5, in Salix matsudana Koidz., was characterized and functionally analyzed. Gene expression tests showed that SmRR5 was distinctly higher in the leaves and roots of the fast-growing S. matsudana variety 9901 than in those of the slow-growing variety Yanjing (YJ). The transcript abundance was highest in the meristem zone (MEZ), followed by the elongation zone (EZ) and maturation zone (MAZ) in 9901 roots, but it was identically low in YJ roots. Overexpression of SmRR5 in tobacco plants significantly improved plant height, maximum root length (MRL), lateral root number (LRN), fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), and flowering time compared with wild-type plants. Transcript profiling revealed that multiple genes associated with flowering (SWEET1, FPF1, and COL12), plant growth (YUCCA8, PIN5, and ARF9a), and adventitious root (AR) formation (Hox3, MYC2, and AGL46) were highly expressed in the overexpression of leaves and roots. Thus, SmRR5 effectively facilitated plant growth and development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Progress in Research on Forest Tree Genomics)
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