Forestry researchPub Date : 2026-02-28eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.48130/forres-0026-0005
Kunjin Han, Huayu Si, Ye Li, Jifeng Yan, Yousry A El-Kassaby, Yizhe Cheng, Houyin Deng, Jie Liu, Yuhan Sun, Yun Li, Ye Zhao
{"title":"PtoHsfB1 regulates growth and salt response by affecting ABA biosynthesis in <i>Populus tomentosa</i>.","authors":"Kunjin Han, Huayu Si, Ye Li, Jifeng Yan, Yousry A El-Kassaby, Yizhe Cheng, Houyin Deng, Jie Liu, Yuhan Sun, Yun Li, Ye Zhao","doi":"10.48130/forres-0026-0005","DOIUrl":"10.48130/forres-0026-0005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Poplar is an important commercial timber species and a model organism for forest molecular biology. Here, we identified PtoHsfB1, a subgroup B heat shock transcription factor from <i>Populus tomentosa</i> that is homologous to AtHsfB1 and PtrHsfB1, and contains the conserved repression motif '-LFGV-'. To elucidate its function, transgenic poplars overexpressing <i>PtoHsfB1</i> were generated. Overexpression significantly enhanced growth rate and biomass accumulation. Histological analyses revealed increased cambial cell layers and enlarged phloem caps, indicating a positive role in cambial activity and phloem development. In roots, <i>PtoHsfB1</i> promoted growth by suppressing abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. Conversely, <i>PtoHsfB1</i> overexpression reduced salt stress tolerance, as evidenced by increased oxidative damage under salt stress conditions. Collectively, these results show that <i>PtoHsfB1</i> plays a dual regulatory role by promoting growth but negatively regulating salt stress responses, highlighting its potential application in improving poplar phloem yield and soil conservation.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"6 ","pages":"e005"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13187910/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147990446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forestry researchPub Date : 2026-01-31eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.48130/forres-0026-0003
Yanting Tian, Ye Zhao, Yuhan Sun, Wenhao Bo, Xiong Huang, Jialong Wen, Shuzhi Wang, Yanping Jing, Yifan Zhao, Tianle Shi, Yousry A El-Kassaby, Baozhen Zhang, Yuanshuai Zhang, Hao Yang, Zuodeng Peng, Juan Han, Yun Li, Quanzi Li
{"title":"Genome and transcriptomics provide insights on stipular spine morphogenesis in <i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i>.","authors":"Yanting Tian, Ye Zhao, Yuhan Sun, Wenhao Bo, Xiong Huang, Jialong Wen, Shuzhi Wang, Yanping Jing, Yifan Zhao, Tianle Shi, Yousry A El-Kassaby, Baozhen Zhang, Yuanshuai Zhang, Hao Yang, Zuodeng Peng, Juan Han, Yun Li, Quanzi Li","doi":"10.48130/forres-0026-0003","DOIUrl":"10.48130/forres-0026-0003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i> (black locust) is a widely introduced and extensively cultivated species notably for its specialized thorn-like structure, known as the stipular spine. Here, combining Oxford Nanopore high-accuracy long-read sequencing and high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) scaffolding, a <i>de novo</i>, chromosome-level assembly of the <i>R. pseudoacacia</i> genome is presented, with a total size of 681.6 Mb and an N50 of 1.1 Mb. Observations showed that fiber cells beneath the epidermis of stipular spines undergo extensive lignification. The total lignin content is significantly higher in stipular spines (48.57%-63.71%) than in stem xylem (24.57%-27.99%), with syringyl (S-type) lignin being the predominant form in both, accounting for 69.79%-73.27% of the total lignin. By leveraging this genome, the transcriptomic and time-ordered gene co-expression network (TO-GCN) analyses uncovered core regulatory networks underlying stipular spine lignification, in which NAC transcription factors RopNST1/2 regulate secondary cell wall thickening and lignin biosynthesis during stipular spine hardening and the monolignol biosynthetic pathway enzyme genes <i>RopCCoAOMT3</i>, <i>RopHCT13b</i>/<i>79</i>/<i>48</i>/<i>14b</i>/<i>20</i>/<i>86</i>/<i>9a,</i> and <i>RopCCR3b</i>/<i>16</i>/<i>24</i>/<i>5a</i> act downstream during lignin biosynthesis. Collectively, these results provide cytological and molecular insights into the hardness of black locust stipular spines, and the high-quality reference genome offers a valuable resource for genomic and evolutionary studies in this species.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"6 ","pages":"e003"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13187913/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147990786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forestry researchPub Date : 2026-01-30eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.48130/forres-0026-0002
Jianxiao Su, Jiali Xu, Mengyao Yu, Jie Gao
{"title":"Divergent responses of leaf traits to latitudinal gradients in natural and planted forests.","authors":"Jianxiao Su, Jiali Xu, Mengyao Yu, Jie Gao","doi":"10.48130/forres-0026-0002","DOIUrl":"10.48130/forres-0026-0002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leaf functional traits are key indicators of plant resource use and environmental adaptation, playing a crucial role in regulating carbon cycling and ecosystem stability. However, how leaf traits respond to latitudinal gradients in natural and planted forests remains insufficiently understood. Based on 482 forest plots across China (105 natural and 377 planted forests) surveyed from 2008 to 2020, latitudinal variation in specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen (LN), and leaf phosphorus (LP) were examined using quadratic polynomial fitting, variance partitioning, CatBoost analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM). Natural and planted forests exhibited marked structural differences: natural forests had higher species richness and high stand diversity, whereas planted forests were structurally simplified, younger, and strongly shaped by management. Planted forests showed pronounced non-monotonic variation along latitude, with SLA and LP peaking at mid-latitudes, whereas natural forests exhibited weaker and more gradual latitudinal changes. Climatic and soil factors jointly dominated trait variation in natural forests, while latitude and stand structure were the primary determinants in planted forests. SEM further revealed that latitude affected leaf traits through indirect pathways mediated by climate, soil, and stand factors, with opposite effects between forest types. Natural forests showed consistent and climate-dominated trait responses, with soil properties mediating these effects in predictable ways, reflecting long-term environmental filtering. In contrast, planted forests exhibited greater short-term environmental plasticity. These findings highlight divergent mechanisms of trait-environment relationships between natural and planted forests and underscore the importance of integrating stand structure and climate matching in planted forests management to enhance ecological resilience and carbon sequestration under global change.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"6 ","pages":"e002"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13187777/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147990743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forestry researchPub Date : 2026-01-29eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.48130/forres-0026-0001
Yaseen Khan, Bing Bing Ye, Adnan Anwar Khan, Ling-Feng Miao, Fan Yang
{"title":"Heavy metal transformation in mangrove ecosystems: a multi-scale perspective from intertidal dynamics to plant adaptive responses.","authors":"Yaseen Khan, Bing Bing Ye, Adnan Anwar Khan, Ling-Feng Miao, Fan Yang","doi":"10.48130/forres-0026-0001","DOIUrl":"10.48130/forres-0026-0001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mangrove ecosystems function as vital biogeochemical interfaces between terrestrial and marine environments, playing a crucial role in transforming heavy metals (HMs). However, this ecosystem is heavily impacted by climate change and anthropogenic activity, including an increase in HM toxicity. The current review synthesizes understanding of HM transformation across three interconnected levels: tidal dynamics, rhizosphere processes, and plant adaptation strategies. Initially, tidal inundation affects the distribution, speciation, and mobility of HMs by altering sediment biogeochemical properties, including pH, redox potential, salinity, and microbial activity. Further, tidal effects influence metal immobilization and remobilization, thereby impacting HM behavior within the rhizosphere, which serves as a secondary barrier to metal transport. Activities in the rhizosphere, including the presence of microbes, generate redox micro-gradients, and release organic ligands that facilitate metal complexation, precipitation, and detoxification. The synergistic interactions between roots and microbes support rhizoremediation in mangrove systems, lowering HM toxicity, and enhancing sediment stability. Additionally, mangroves employ various structural, physiological, and biochemical strategies, including selective metal uptake, excretion, internal detoxification systems, and the activation of antioxidant enzymes, to reduce HMs-induced stress. However, adaptation mechanisms differ among species and are influenced by interactions between tidal regimes, rhizosphere conditions, and plant traits. Integrating the three hierarchical levels-tide, root, and plant-highlights that mangrove ecosystems function as self-regulating biogeochemical systems capable of stabilizing and transforming HMs under dynamic environmental conditions. Such integrative mechanisms advance nature-based remediation strategies and reinforce mangroves' role as effective natural barriers against HM pollution, thereby contributing to sustainable coastal management and ecosystem resilience in a changing global environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"6 ","pages":"e001"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13187784/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147989992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forestry researchPub Date : 2025-12-31eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.48130/forres-0025-0030
Bowen Zhou, Na Xu, Zhuoran Yang, Xingkai Sun, Yihao Sun, Zhenyang Ji, Li-Jun Liu
{"title":"The Class I HD-ZIP transcription factor PagHB7a functions as a positive regulator of salt tolerance in <i>Populus</i>.","authors":"Bowen Zhou, Na Xu, Zhuoran Yang, Xingkai Sun, Yihao Sun, Zhenyang Ji, Li-Jun Liu","doi":"10.48130/forres-0025-0030","DOIUrl":"10.48130/forres-0025-0030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) proteins are plant-specific transcription factors that play important roles in plant development and abiotic responses. In our previous study, the <i>PagHB7a</i> gene was identified, which belongs to the Class I HD ZIP family, and was among the most significantly induced genes by salt stress in poplar. In the present study, the role of <i>PagHB7a</i> was functionally characterized in salt stress responses. Expression analysis confirmed that <i>PagHB7a</i> was significantly induced by salt and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments; moreover, <i>PagHB7a</i> was directly regulated by the ABA-responsive element (ABRE) binding proteins (PagAREB1s). Genetic analysis showed that overexpression of <i>PagHB7a</i> (<i>PagHB7a-OE</i>) significantly enhanced salt tolerance, whereas CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of <i>PagHB7a</i> (<i>PagHB7a-KO</i>) significantly reduced it. Transcriptome analysis revealed that biological pathways responding to salt stress, ABA, and oxidative stress were significantly upregulated in <i>PagHB7a-OE</i> plants. Collectively, our results demonstrate that PagHB7a, a salt stress- and ABA-inducible transcription factor, acts as a positive regulator of salt tolerance in <i>Populus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"5 ","pages":"e030"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12982921/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147470480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hydraulic strategies of <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> under drought are shaped by native drought conditions.","authors":"Jian Feng, Yuan Yao, Yue He, Pei Wang, Hanying Hu, Sheng Zhang","doi":"10.48130/forres-0025-0031","DOIUrl":"10.48130/forres-0025-0031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> is integral to soil conservation, climate regulation, and biodiversity maintenance, yet its ecological functions are threatened by drought. Functional trait trade-offs underpin hydraulic safety, but the plasticity of hydraulic strategies in <i>C. lanceolata</i> remains poorly understood. Here, the historical intensity of drought across different <i>C. lanceolata</i> regions were quantified using the Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) derived from satellite remote sensing. Seedlings sourced from these regions were subjected to drought under greenhouse conditions, and then water status, physiological traits, and metabolic responses were assessed to elucidate hydraulic strategies. The results revealed that TVDI effectively captured regional drought patterns, with the Dechang region experiencing the highest drought intensity, followed by the Hongya and Shiyan regions. The seedlings exhibited distinct hydraulic responses under drought stress. The highest drought-originated seedlings maintained a stable leaf water status, imposed stricter regulation of stomatal and biomass, and accumulated higher levels of antioxidants and defense compounds, indicative of a conservative strategy. In contrast, the low drought-originated seedlings showed greater fluctuations in leaf water content and potential, retained more aboveground biomass, and accumulated fewer defense compounds, reflecting an acquisitive strategy. The moderate drought-originated seedlings adopted an intermediate strategy, balancing growth and antioxidant accumulation. Overall, as the intensity of the drought increased across the provenances, <i>C. lanceolata</i> shifted from an acquisitive to a conservative hydraulic strategy. By linking provenance-specific drought regimes with physiological and metabolic responses, this study provides new insights into drought resistance mechanisms and informs species selection and forest management under climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"5 ","pages":"e031"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12979179/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147470513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forestry researchPub Date : 2025-11-26eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.48130/forres-0025-0029
Debin Qin, Ruqian Wu, Linlin Niu, Bo Jiang, Yiwei Li, Guohua Chai, Jie Luo, Xinmin An
{"title":"Optimizing nitrogen use efficiency in forest plantations: mechanistic insights from <i>Arabidopsis</i>, crops, and natural forestry ecosystems.","authors":"Debin Qin, Ruqian Wu, Linlin Niu, Bo Jiang, Yiwei Li, Guohua Chai, Jie Luo, Xinmin An","doi":"10.48130/forres-0025-0029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.48130/forres-0025-0029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Forest plantations, such as poplar and eucalyptus, exhibit high nitrogen requirements that are vital for growth, biomass accumulation, and the production of high-quality timber. However, the investigation of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) mechanisms in forest plantations lags far behind that in crops. In contrast, natural forest ecosystems, without chemical fertilizer inputs, demonstrate remarkable capacities for biological nitrogen fixation and internal nitrogen cycling. Drawing on nitrogen utilization strategies elucidated in <i>Arabidopsis</i>, crop species, and natural forest ecosystems, this review provides a comprehensive synthesis and proposes strategies to enhance NUE in forest plantations. Key approaches include optimizing root system architecture, increasing intrinsic nitrogen uptake capacity, and harnessing beneficial microorganisms to improve nitrogen utilization. Furthermore, the review highlights the promising opportunities for employing key regulatory genes and synthetic biology approaches to achieve targeted enhancement of NUE in forest plantations.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"5 ","pages":"e029"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12648161/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145644450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forestry researchPub Date : 2025-11-20eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.48130/forres-0025-0027
Jinkai Lu, Han Tang, Wei Li, Yanbin Jiang, Helin Zou, Zhili Wang, Weixing Li, Qingjie Wang, Li Wang
{"title":"Dual function of <i>GbNAC2</i> in flavonoid metabolism and hormonal pathways enhances salt tolerance in <i>Ginkgo biloba</i>.","authors":"Jinkai Lu, Han Tang, Wei Li, Yanbin Jiang, Helin Zou, Zhili Wang, Weixing Li, Qingjie Wang, Li Wang","doi":"10.48130/forres-0025-0027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.48130/forres-0025-0027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>NAC transcription factors are central regulators of plant salt tolerance, yet their specific roles in ginkgo salt response remain unclear. Here, <i>GbNAC2</i> was identified as a salinity-induced transcriptional activator in ginkgo, orchestrating two key adaptive responses. <i>GbNAC2</i> overexpression significantly improved salt tolerance in transgenic plants, accompanied by over 60% increase in root length, and more than 20% increase in flavonoid content compared to wild type (WT). Transcriptome analysis of <i>GbNAC2</i>-overexpressing ginkgo calli revealed that genes related to auxin biosynthesis, and those involved in the flavonoid synthesis pathway, were significantly upregulated in transgenic calli. Mechanistically, GbNAC2 directly binds the <i>GbAREB3</i> promoter to enhance ABA signaling, and exogenous ABA treatment further enhances salt resilience. The present findings unveil a unique crosstalk mediated by GbNAC2 between flavonoid-antioxidant systems and auxin-ABA hormonal networks, effectively resolving the growth-defense trade-off under salinity in ginkgo.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"5 ","pages":"e028"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12648015/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145644464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forestry researchPub Date : 2025-11-19eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.48130/forres-0025-0028
Zha-Long Ye, Xiang-Yi Li, Man-Li Nong, Xiao-Mei Sun, Wanfeng Li
{"title":"The age-related expression patterns of <i>Larix kaempferi</i> <i>AP2</i> subfamily genes and functional dissection of <i>LkTOE1-2</i> in seed formation and germination.","authors":"Zha-Long Ye, Xiang-Yi Li, Man-Li Nong, Xiao-Mei Sun, Wanfeng Li","doi":"10.48130/forres-0025-0028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.48130/forres-0025-0028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Conifers pose challenges for breeding programs due to their extended vegetative phases. Despite the critical role of <i>APETALA2</i> (<i>AP2</i>) in regulating phase transitions, the <i>AP2</i>/<i>ERF</i> superfamily remains largely unexplored in gymnosperms. Here, the first genome-wide analysis of the <i>AP2</i>/<i>ERF</i> superfamily in a conifer, <i>Larix kaempferi</i> (Japanese larch) is presented, and 374 members were identified. Among all eight paralogs, four <i>euAP2</i> lineage genes, <i>TARGET OF EATs</i> (<i>TOEs</i>), exhibit age-decreased expression patterns. Functional characterization of <i>LkTOE1-2</i> demonstrates its involvement in somatic embryogenesis and seed germination. Importantly, the RUBY reporter system confirmed an enhanced promoter activity in somatic embryo maturation. Over-expression of <i>LkTOE1-2</i> in <i>Arabidopsis</i> accelerates seed germination by 23.77%, bolting by 6.93%, and flowering by 5.92%. This study provides not only an expanded genomic resource for gymnosperms but also a candidate gene (<i>LkTOE1-2</i>) to shorten the juvenile phase of larch via molecular breeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"5 ","pages":"e027"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12648160/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145644432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Genomic vulnerability assessment reveals the potential benefits of adaptive introgression by mitigating the maladaptive risk of admixed populations.","authors":"Wen-Hao Li, Han-Yang Lin, Chen Chen, Chen-Feng Lin, Xing-Xing Shen, Yun-Peng Zhao","doi":"10.48130/forres-0025-0026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.48130/forres-0025-0026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As climate change accelerates, plant species largely rely on genetic variation to adapt and survive when they fail to track their ecological niches through range shifts. Predicted genomic vulnerability is able to identify populations lacking the necessary genetic variation for climate change adaptation. However, the role of introgression in genomic vulnerability remains poorly explored. Here, we used the dove tree (<i>Davidia involucrata</i>), a relict species native to southwestern China, to test whether introgression may reduce genomic vulnerability. By integrating population genomics and environmental data collected from 196 individuals of 18 populations, we identified 747 strictly climate-associated loci across the distribution range of <i>D. involucrata</i>, 138 of which were recovered from the genetically admixed populations. We estimated the genomic vulnerability for three genetic lineages and two admixed groups using the gradient forest approach, and found that eastern populations are likely to be at higher risk. The eastern admixed populations exhibited a significant reduction, with introgression from the southern lineage. Cumulative importance analysis showed moderate importance for introgressive loci along environmental gradients. This indicates that the introduction of novel alleles through introgression provides only a partial and insufficient counterbalance to the maladaptation observed in <i>D. involucrata</i> under climate change. Our study highlights the role of intraspecific introgression in response to climate change and emphasizes the importance of genomic vulnerability studies in informing conservation practices for relict and endangered species.</p>","PeriodicalId":520285,"journal":{"name":"Forestry research","volume":"5 ","pages":"e026"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12648016/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145644436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}