Latest Progress in Research on Forest Tree Genomics

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 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.