Population Genetics and Molecular Evolution of Trees
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics and Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 1249
Special Issue Editor
Interests: molecular biology; molecular genetics; genetics of conservation; forensic sciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Population genetics and molecular evolution studies in forest trees reveal high genetic diversity and adaptive potential, shaped by long lifespans, gene flow, and interbreeding. Integrated omics approaches—genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics—are uncovering mechanisms of evolutionary divergence and environmental adaptation. Recent genomic studies highlight the role of genome duplication and dynamic gene regulation, especially in response to biotic and abiotic stressors like pathogens, drought, and soil contamination. Transcriptomic analyses identify differentially expressed genes in key metabolic pathways, while proteomics deepens our understanding of post-transcriptional adaptations. Population genomics detects selective pressures and links nucleotide polymorphisms to local adaptation, emphasizing trees’ genomic plasticity proving that the genomic evolution of trees acts as a buffer against climate and environmental changes, with a constant need for broader data on advanced omics technologies, including predictive modeling of evolutionary responses, related to plant growth and adaptation to anthropogenic pressures in forest environments.
These insights support the prediction that evolutionary responses to anthropogenic pressures may effectively contribute to forest management while maintaining the sustainability of future forest ecosystems, with a pressing need for more data on underrepresented tree species using advanced omics technologies. This Special Issue invites interdisciplinary submissions, from experimental to modeling studies, focused on population and evolutionary genetics of forest trees, aiming to conserve forest genetic resources and influence future forest policies.
Prof. Dr. Justyna A. Nowakowska
Guest Editor
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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
- adaptive evolution/selection
- climate resilience
- conservation genetics/genomics
- genomic plasticity
- environmental adaptation
- epigenomics
- management of forest genetic resources
- molecular evolution
- population genetics
- proteomics
- transcriptomics
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