Advances and Promises of Epigenetics for Forest Trees
Joana Amaral,
Zoé Ribeyre,
Julien Vigneaud,
Mamadou Dia Sow,
Régis Fichot,
Christian Messier,
Gloria Pinto,
Philippe Nolet,
Stéphane Maury
Affiliations
Joana Amaral
CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Zoé Ribeyre
Département des Sciences Naturelles, Institut des Sciences de la Forêt Tempérée (ISFORT), Centre d’étude de la Forêt (CEF), University of Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Ripon, QC J0V 1V0, Canada
Julien Vigneaud
Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures (LBLGC), INRAe, University of Orléans, EA 1207 USC 1328, 45067 Orléans, France
Mamadou Dia Sow
Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures (LBLGC), INRAe, University of Orléans, EA 1207 USC 1328, 45067 Orléans, France
Régis Fichot
Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures (LBLGC), INRAe, University of Orléans, EA 1207 USC 1328, 45067 Orléans, France
Christian Messier
Département des Sciences Naturelles, Institut des Sciences de la Forêt Tempérée (ISFORT), Centre d’étude de la Forêt (CEF), University of Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Ripon, QC J0V 1V0, Canada
Gloria Pinto
CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Philippe Nolet
Département des Sciences Naturelles, Institut des Sciences de la Forêt Tempérée (ISFORT), Centre d’étude de la Forêt (CEF), University of Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Ripon, QC J0V 1V0, Canada
Stéphane Maury
Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures (LBLGC), INRAe, University of Orléans, EA 1207 USC 1328, 45067 Orléans, France
The importance of tree genetic variability in the ability of forests to respond and adapt to environmental changes is crucial in forest management and conservation. Along with genetics, recent advances have highlighted “epigenetics” as an emerging and promising field of research for the understanding of tree phenotypic plasticity and adaptive responses. In this paper, we review recent advances in this emerging field and their potential applications for tree researchers and breeders, as well as for forest managers. First, we present the basics of epigenetics in plants before discussing its potential for trees. We then propose a bibliometric and overview of the literature on epigenetics in trees, including recent advances on tree priming. Lastly, we outline the promises of epigenetics for forest research and management, along with current gaps and future challenges. Research in epigenetics could use highly diverse paths to help forests adapt to global change by eliciting different innovative silvicultural approaches for natural- and artificial-based forest management.