Open Access

REVIEW

Genetic Improvement of Betula platyphylla Suk. in China: A Review

Qinhui Zhang^1,2,#, Xiaona Pei^1,#, Lianfeng Xu^3,#, Xianbo Lu², Baoyang Wen³, Yanlong Li⁴, Liankui Wang⁴, Guangzhi Dong⁴, Wanling Shi⁴, Xiaoqing Hu^1,*, Xiyang Zhao^1,2,*

1 College of Forestry and Grassland, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China
2 State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
3 Qiqihar Institute of Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry, Qiqihar, 161021, China
4 Sanchazi Forestry Bureau of Jilin Province, Baishan, 134600, China

* Corresponding Authors: Xiaoqing Hu. Email: ; Xiyang Zhao. Email:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2022, 91(8), 1585-1599. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2022.020372

Received 19 November 2021; Accepted 18 January 2022; Issue published 14 April 2022

Abstract

Birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.), distributed in Eurasia, North America, and Australia, is a kind of cold-resistant, fast-growing, and vital pulpwood tree species. It is also one of the most important ecological restoration tree species with high values of economic benefits in Northeast China. To improve the genetic gain and expand the economic benefit of B. platyphylla, many genetic improvements have been carried out. In China, B. platyphylla is widely distributed and varied, and there are many varieties with excellent genetic characteristics. In this paper, the genetic improvement of B. platyphylla was reviewed, and the previous research results were discussed from two aspects: conventional breeding and molecular breeding. Some problems and corresponding solutions in the genetic improvement were put forward to provide ideas for B. platyphylla breeding in the future.

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Keywords

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