An Overview of Oak Species in Pakistan: Past, Present, and Future Research Perspectives

Quercus spp. have formed broad-leaved evergreen forests in the Hindu Kush and Himalayan regions of Pakistan. Seven species of the genus Quercus (Q. baloot Griff., Q. dilatata Royle., Q. glauca Thunb., Q. incana Roxb., Q. robur Linn., Q. semecarpifolia Smith., and Q. leucotrichophora A. Camus.) have been identified. These species have received little attention compared with other economically valuable plant species in Pakistan, which has been mainly linked to traditional medicine and the identification of phytonutrients to evaluate their bioactivities and toxicological effects. Quercus spp. are promising for commercial applications, so government policy should encourage their management and conservation. However, they are currently threatened by severe human activities and climate change. The goal of this review is to highlight the relevance of these forgotten species, describing overall aspects related to their distribution, morphology, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and threats. To date, no proper and comprehensive molecular studies on the populations of these species found in Pakistan have been conducted, which is a critical gap as molecular studies are essential for conservation and management strategies. Finally, we discuss future directions in molecular approaches for Quercus that follow the strategies that are being used for other species of the genus Quercus that are not found in Pakistan.

Automated summary

This article introduces the formation of broad-leaved evergreen forests by Quercus spp. in the Hindu Kush and Himalayan regions of Pakistan. Seven species of Quercus genus have been identified, but they have received little attention in terms of their economic value and bioactivity evaluation. Quercus spp. show promise for commercial applications, but are currently threatened by human activities and climate change. This review highlights the importance of these forgotten species and discusses various aspects of their distribution, morphology, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and threats. The lack of molecular studies on populations of these species in Pakistan is a critical gap that needs to be addressed for conservation and management strategies. Future research directions in molecular approaches for Quercus are also discussed.