Using Genomic Information in Forest Tree Breeding, Restoration, and Conservation: Separating Hype from Reality

Dear Colleagues,

Large-scale genomic information has already changed forest genetics, and new approaches are on the horizon. However, rapid advances have widened the gulf between researchers and the users of genomic information. This Special Issue of Forests aims to review the latest research on forest tree genomics and facilitate dialog among researchers and expert practitioners. We seek review articles, short perspective papers, and contributions describing original research and applications of structural, functional, evolutionary/comparative, quantitative/population, and ecological/landscape genomics in forest trees. Research on non-forest species (e.g., fruit trees or agricultural/energy crops) is encouraged, if implications for forest trees are clear. Our goal is to ‘connect-the-dots’ between genomic research and application. Thus, your paper should include a discussion of the timeline and steps involved in translating genomic research into operational activities in ways that are clear to knowledgeable practitioners. We also encourage papers that describe downstream applications and priority needs for genomic information from a user’s perspective. Papers from breeders, conservationists, ecologists, and physiologists are particularly relevant. Our submission, peer-review, and publication processes are designed to achieve a comprehensive overview of the topic that incorporates diverse perspectives. By first sending us a short overview of your proposed paper, we can fill topic-area gaps as needed. The submissions themselves will be evaluated by external reviewers, and once a paper is accepted, it will be shared among other authors. These interactions will help us to develop an integrated Special Issue with critical analysis of ongoing debates.

Dr. Gancho Slavov
Dr. Glenn T. Howe
Dr. Jaroslav Klápště
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 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.