An overview of teak genetic improvement towards conservation of genetic resources in a changing climate with special emphasis on India

• Published in: Tree genetics & genomes Vol. 19; no. 3; p. 29
• Main Authors: Balakrishnan, Swathi, Ramasamy, Yasodha, Dev, Suma Arun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Breeding; Climate change; Climate effects; Conservation; Ecological niches; Forestry; Genetic diversity; Genetic improvement; Genetic resources; Germplasm; Indigenous species; Life Sciences; Niches; Orchards; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant species; Plantations; Planting; Population genetics; Productivity; Replenishment; Review; Seed orchards; Tree Biology; India; Adaptive potential; Genetic gain; Climate change; Genetic diversity; Teak breeding strategies
• ISSN: 1614-2942; 1614-2950
• DOI: 10.1007/s11295-023-01604-y

Teak is an economically important native timber tree species, maintained as plantations in different geographical areas with India being its genetic diversity center. However, the teak genetic resources in India are under threat as most of the plantations are established from seed production areas (SPAs) and clonal seed orchards (CSOs), which have a narrow genetic base. Poor genetic gain and productivity loss from the existing SPAs and CSOs demand replenishment with germplasm of broad genetic basis and also to sustain the drastic effects of climate change. However, little effort is taken to select genetically rich planting materials and identify appropriate geographic niches while establishing new plantations. We recommend teak improvement programs to incorporate both conventional and molecular tools, with special emphasis on identification of breeding zones and ideal ecological niches for raising plantations to guarantee the assured productivity. The selection of planting materials from natural population genetic hot spots or breeding zones with adaptive potential needs to be considered, especially in the climate change scenario, for effective implementation of conservation and management strategies. This review thus provides information on teak distribution, its growth and breeding characteristics, genetic parameters, genomic characterization, tree improvement, and conservation of teak genetic resources, improving teak breeding programs, taking into account the local adaptive potential of the species in changing climate with special reference to India.