Improvement and Plant Physiology of Robinia pseudoacacia
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecophysiology and Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 572
Special Issue Editors
Interests: black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) improvement; testing of new black locust clones; phytophysiological characteristics and water use strategies of black locust
Interests: genetic breeding; polyploid; trait variation; transcriptional regulation
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Black locust is a fast-growing, light-demanding, N-fixing multi-purpose tree species native to North America. It exhibits a high photosynthetic rate, particularly under high light conditions. Furthermore, it has effective stomatal regulation, thus it adopts a balanced water regulatory strategy between isohydry and anisohydry to cope with drought stress. Due to its adaptability, it is widely used in reforestation and afforestation projects, particularly in regions facing the negative effects of climate change (high temperature, increased drought, land degradation, etc.). Its rapid growth and biomass production make it a valuable tree species for carbon sequestration, supporting mitigation efforts. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in apiculture. In the context of a potential timber shortage, Robinia offers a sustainable alternative. Its dense, rot-resistant wood is highly durable, making it ideal for construction, furniture, and outdoor applications. Plantations established on marginal sites can provide a renewable wood supply, reducing the ecological pressure on native forests. Moreover, its short rotation cycle ensures frequent harvests, supporting the bioenergy sector and contributing to circular economies.
In order to produce good quality wood on the plantations, it is essential to study the phytophysiological characteristics (photosynthetic activity, carbon sequestration, water use strategies, etc.) of the relatively drought-tolerant tree species, such as black locust. In addition, we can improve this tree species' resilience to extreme climates by transferring seeds from preadapted populations in drier, warmer regions, establishing seed orchards from these genotypes, or using vegetative methods like tissue culture, micropropagation, or rooted cuttings, based on plant physiological studies.
This Special Issue seeks studies from a broad range of research topics related to the improvement and plant physiology of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), including reports on new clones; physiological responses to drought and heat stress; net assimilation; carbon sequestration; light response curves; water use strategies; water use efficiency (WUE); chlorophyll content; multispectral analyses; flowering characteristics; fast growth; and good stem quality.
Dr. Tamas Abri
Dr. Yun Li
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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
- Robinia pseudoacacia
- plant physiology
- assimilation
- transpiration
- stomatal regulation
- water use efficiency
- chlorophyll content
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