Abstract:

In 2024, driven by China’s “dual carbon” strategy and the demand for improving forest quality, the forest genetic breeding research in China has made a series of landmark progress, promoting the accelerated transition of the breeding system toward precision and intelligence. In terms of genomics, chromosome-level haplotype-resolved or telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome assemblies have been completed for 11 representative tree species, including Populus spp., Platanus acerifolia, and Hevea brasiliensis, along with the construction of a super-pangenome spanning major taxonomic groups. These advances have facilitated comparative, population, and pangenomic analyses, revealing species-level geographic divergence mechanisms and chromosomal evolutionary trajectories, and enabling the integration of germplasm resources with key genes underlying important traits. Through multi-omics integration, a molecular network has been constructed to regulate processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation, hormone signaling, and environmental adaptation, focusing on key traits such as wood formation, stress adaptation, and biomass accumulation. Advances in genome editing technology have enabled precise gene modification without exogenous genetic material, establishing versatile editing platforms suitable for diverse tree species and accelerating the functional validation of genes and elite allele development. Genomic selection, combined with prior information from genome-wide association study (GWAS), has significantly improved the predictive accuracy for complex traits, enhancing selection efficiency and accelerating genetic gain. In breeding innovation, polyploid breeding combining distant hybridization with chromosome doubling has overcome reproductive barriers. Polyploid strategies, including 2n gamete induction and somatic chromosome doubling, have broadened the genetic base for developing fast-growing and stress-resilient germplasm. A total of 23 breakthrough cultivars were officially approved in 2024, covering major types such as fast-growing, economic, and timber tree species, with potential deployment across more than 50% of China’s afforestation zones. China is progressively building a breeding framework integrating omics resource accumulation, functional gene discovery, gene functional dissection, accurate genomic prediction, molecular design breeding, elite germplasm creation. Meanwhile, the development of integrated data platforms of multi-species, multi-omics, and multi-scale is strengthening the foundation for complex trait dissection and precision breeding. These efforts are reinforcing national capacity to enhance forest carbon sinks, improve forestland productivity, and safeguard ecological security.

Key words: tree genetics and breeding, genomics, trait regulation, gene editing, genomic selection, breeding variety selection