About this Research Topic
Forest, the largest terrestrial ecosystem on earth, is an important part of the global biosphere. It serves as the gene pool, carbon reservoir, storage reservoir, and energy reservoir on the earth. Forests play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the earth. It is the resource and environment on which people depend for survival and development. At the same time, artificial timber forests provide humans with a sustainable source of wood, which is widely used for construction, pulp and paper production, etc. However, due to the interference of natural factors such as human activities, environmental damage, and pests, forest area in the world continues to decrease and species diversity continues to be destroyed. We need immediate and efficient methods and actions to solve these problems through modern technology.
The whole-genome sequence of Populus trichocarpa was published in 2006, which opened a "new era" of forest tree genomics research. People are trying to understand the functions of key genes that control tree growth and development, and some attempts of biotechnology in trees have been successful and used in commerce. To date, genomes of many woody plants have been assembled, including rare and protected tree species, economic tree species, and timber species. In the past decades, numerous genetically modified trees (GMTs) with altered or novel characteristics have been produced. Although there is a very low risk for human health and food safety, the public acceptance of GMTs is very low. So it is necessary to find a way in which the risk assessment of GMTs is feasible.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel research trends/results in the forestry functional genome field, and how to apply it to improve forest properties, such as material properties, fast-growing, higher resistance to bad environment, etc. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Risk assessment of genetically modified trees
• Forest genetic engineering
• Functional genomics research on rare and protected tree species, economic tree species, and timber tree species
• Molecular improvement of wood material properties
• Research on the mechanism of forest tree's fine traits
• Forest metabolic engineering
• Tree stress and resistance
• How might biotechnology of trees help to meet sustainable development goals, e.g. reducing GHG emissions, etc.?
• What is the acceptability of GM/GE trees to the public?
• How will basic research in tree genetics be translated into commercial products (e.g., by multinationals, SMEs, the public sector)?
• What can we learn from GM arable crops to ensure that biotechnology of trees fulfills its potential (e.g. doesn't become overwhelmed by regulatory/public acceptance problems; and is not seen as "unsustainable").
The whole-genome sequence of Populus trichocarpa was published in 2006, which opened a "new era" of forest tree genomics research. People are trying to understand the functions of key genes that control tree growth and development, and some attempts of biotechnology in trees have been successful and used in commerce. To date, genomes of many woody plants have been assembled, including rare and protected tree species, economic tree species, and timber species. In the past decades, numerous genetically modified trees (GMTs) with altered or novel characteristics have been produced. Although there is a very low risk for human health and food safety, the public acceptance of GMTs is very low. So it is necessary to find a way in which the risk assessment of GMTs is feasible.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel research trends/results in the forestry functional genome field, and how to apply it to improve forest properties, such as material properties, fast-growing, higher resistance to bad environment, etc. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Risk assessment of genetically modified trees
• Forest genetic engineering
• Functional genomics research on rare and protected tree species, economic tree species, and timber tree species
• Molecular improvement of wood material properties
• Research on the mechanism of forest tree's fine traits
• Forest metabolic engineering
• Tree stress and resistance
• How might biotechnology of trees help to meet sustainable development goals, e.g. reducing GHG emissions, etc.?
• What is the acceptability of GM/GE trees to the public?
• How will basic research in tree genetics be translated into commercial products (e.g., by multinationals, SMEs, the public sector)?
• What can we learn from GM arable crops to ensure that biotechnology of trees fulfills its potential (e.g. doesn't become overwhelmed by regulatory/public acceptance problems; and is not seen as "unsustainable").
Keywords: Forestry Biosafety, GMTs, Forest Genetic Engineering, Forest Metabolic Engineering, Tree Stress, Tree Resistance
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