Genomics-Based Systems and Multi-disciplinary Approaches to Unlock Complex Gene Networks Underlying Wood Formation

Purpose of Review Wood represents an important economic natural resource and the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying its formation are best studied through biotechnological approaches, of which genomics forms an important branch. The evolution of technologies employed to examine wood formation at the molecular level has led to the development of novel methods in the field of wood genomics. The goal of this paper is to summarize the important advancements made in recent years to study wood genomics. Recent Findings Breakthroughs in sequencing technologies and the availability of additional assembled and functionally annotated plant genomes have broadened the scope of organisms for investigating the distinct wood formation patterns among seed plants. The study of non-coding RNAs and epigenetic interactions has become an important part of research on the expression regulation of genes implicated in wood formation. Systems genetics coupled with network graph theory have been used to integrate multiple layers of molecular data to study wood formation as a complex biological process. In terms of wood improvement, genomics-enabled breeding has produced similar or even better results compared to traditional selection approaches. Over the past 5 years, the field of wood genomics has seen a shift to an increasingly holistic approach to help decipher wood formation as a complex biological process. In the future, the field of wood genomics will see major contributions from evolutionary developmental biology, epigenomics, and the study of additional interactions between biomolecules. The resulting knowledge will further improve genomic prediction models in support of tree germplasm enhancement.

Automated summary

Wood genomics, studied through biotechnological approaches such as genomics, is essential for understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying wood formation and improving wood quality. Recent advancements include the use of sequencing technologies and annotated plant genomes to explore wood formation patterns, the study of non-coding RNAs and epigenetic interactions in gene expression regulation during wood formation, and the integration of molecular data through systems genetics and network graph theory. Genomics-enabled breeding has shown promising results in wood improvement. The field of wood genomics is shifting towards a more holistic approach, and future research will focus on evolutionary developmental biology, epigenomics, and biomolecular interactions to enhance tree germplasm.