Forest tree genetics and genomics are advancing at an accelerated rate, thanks to recent developments in high-throughput next generation sequencing capabilities and novel biostatistical tools. Population and landscape genetics and genomics have seen the rise of new approaches implemented in large scale studies that employ the use of genome-wide sampling. Such studies have started to discern the dynamics of neutral and adaptive variation in nature and the processes that underlie spatially explicit patterns of genetic and genomic variation in nature. The continuous development of genetic maps in forest trees and the expansion of QTL and association mapping approaches contribute to unravel the genotype-phenotype relationship and to lead to marker assisted and genome-wide selection. However, major challenges lie ahead. Recent literature suggests that species demography and genetic diversity have been affected both by climatic oscillations and anthropogenically induced stresses in a way that future adaptation may be questionable. Moreover, the pace of contemporary environmental change put a great challenge on forest tree populations and their ability to adapt taking into account their life history characteristics. Several questions emerge that include, but are not limited to, the interpretation of forest tree genome surveillance and their structural/functional properties, the adaptive and neutral processes that have shaped forest tree genomes, the analysis of phenotypic traits relevant to adaptation (especially adaptation under contemporary climate change), the link epigenetics/epigenomics to phenotype and genotype, and the use of genetics/genomics as well as genetic monitoring to advance conservation priorities.
This volume provides a first-rate illustration of state-of-the-art research in the advancing area of the Genetics and Genomics of Forest Trees, especially as the pace of contemporary environmental change challenges the ability of forest tree populations to adapt. Forest tree genetics and genomics are developing and evolving at an accelerated speed, thanks to recent developments in high-throughput next generation sequencing capabilities and novel biostatistical tools. Population and landscape genetics and genomics have seen the rise of large scale studies that employ the use of extended or genome-wide sampling. New or newly modified approaches, methodologies and protocols can be found in this volume. Studies on both neutral and potentially adaptive variation are included at a scale ranging from the cell to the landscape that contributes to the unravelling of the genotype-phenotype relationship.
The volume contains an impressive list of 112 authors affiliated with 72 educational and research institutions that have contributed to the 20 papers included. The directions of state-of-the-art forest genetics and genomics research are well reflected in the main topics of this volume. Genetic diversity in nature is dealt with, in nine papers, however most importantly an almost equal amount of papers (8) concerns transcriptomics and includes some of the most recent advances of relevant research in forest trees. The volume is complemented with two papers on quantitative genetics and one paper on tissue culture. With regards to the taxa studied, the volume contains 11 studies on angiosperms and eight in conifers, while a review paper refers to both. Among the genera represented in these studies, Pinus dominates the list with seven studies and a total of 12 species studied, followed by Quercus (3 studies, 3 species), and then by Paulownia (2 studies, 2 species) and Betula (2 studies, I species). The rest of the genera are: Cunninghamia, Liquidambar, Passiflora. Picea and Xylocarpus.
The diversity of articles published in this Special Volume underscores the extensive range of contemporary research in this field. Clearly, this volume presents merely a glance, although a very interesting one, of a wide and extensive area of research that strives to promote knowledge in the areas of genetics and genomics of forest trees and to contribute to the management and conservation of forest genetic resources under strong environmental change.
Prof. Dr. Filippos A. (Phil) Aravanopoulos
Volume Editor
OPEN ACCESS:
Aravanopoulos FA 2018 (ed). Genetics and Genomics of Forest Trees, MDPI Press, Basel, Switzerland, pp. 332, ISBN 978-3-03897-298-3.