Conifers, and related gymnosperms, are among the world’s oldest groups of organisms. I learned that in my first year at university while training as a forester, and even now, as a forest geneticist nearing the end of my scientific career, I still find this fascinating. Conifers evolved during the era of the dinosaurs and continue to dominate large expanses of forest around the world, even after the subsequent evolution of the angiosperms, which are exceedingly more species-diverse. What was in the DNA of conifers that made them so durable? In The Conifers: Genomes,
Variation, and Evolution, David Neale and Nicholas Wheeler review and synthesize findings from traditional genetic studies and the most recent molecular genetic research that helps elucidate why conifers may have persisted for millions of years. Humans have long valued conifers for their exceptional wood properties. Straighter in form, and possessing stronger yet lighter wood than most angiosperms, they have been important construction materials throughout the world for thousands of years. Today, conifers are an important forest resource in many countries. Early in the twentieth century, scientists recognized the significance of conifer genetics to the practice of forestry. Common garden studies by pioneering geneticists showed that many conifer species had considerable levels of genetic variation, making them highly suitable to “improvement” using classic breeding techniques developed on
domestic plants and animals. Many traditional conifer breeding programs were subsequently initiated, practicing recurrent selection in order to improve desired traits ─ such as growth, resistance to disease and insects, and, more recently, adaptability to changing environments. In the 1980s, molecular genetics studies of forest trees also became a key element to understanding their basic biology. Using the technique of protein electrophoresis, these molecular approaches enhanced our knowledge of conifer genetics and became instrumental to understanding conifer mating
dynamics, informing seed production practices, and developing forest tree genetic resource management programs.
