Will “Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow”? White Oak (Quercus alba) Biology in the Anthropocene

Albert G. Abbott; Margaret E. Staton; John M. Lohtka; Laura E. DeWald; Tetyana Zhebentyayeva; Beant Kapoor; Austin M. Thomas; Drew A. Larson; Denita Hadziabdic; Seth DeBolt; C. Dana Nelson; John E. Carlson

doi:10.3390/f15020269

Treesearch

Will “Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow”? White Oak (Quercus alba) Biology in the Anthropocene

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Albert G. Abbott, Margaret E. Staton, John M. Lohtka, Laura E. DeWald, Tetyana Zhebentyayeva, Beant Kapoor, Austin M. Thomas, Drew A. Larson, Denita Hadziabdic, Seth DeBolt, C. Dana Nelson, John E. Carlson

Year:

2024

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Southern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020269

Source:

Forests

Download (PDF 10.66 MB)

Download (PDF 10.66 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/67333.pdf

Abstract

Quercus alba L., also known as white oak, eastern white oak, or American white oak, is aquintessential North American species within the white oak section (Quercus) of the genus Quercus,subgenus Quercus. This species plays a vital role as a keystone species in eastern North Americanforests and plays a significant role in local and regional economies. As a long-lived woody perennialcovering an extensive natural range, Q. alba’s biology is shaped by a myriad of adaptations accumulatedthroughout its natural history. Populations of Q. alba are crucial repositories of genetic, genomic,and evolutionary insights, capturing the essence of successful historical adaptations and ongoingresponses to contemporary environmental challenges in the Anthropocene. This intersection offers anexceptional opportunity to integrate genomic knowledge with the discovery of climate-relevant traits,advancing tree improvement, forest ecology, and forest management strategies. This review providesa comprehensive examination of the current understanding of Q. alba’s biology, considering past,present, and future research perspectives. It encompasses aspects such as distribution, phylogeny,population structure, key adaptive traits to cyclical environmental conditions (including water use,reproduction, propagation, and growth), as well as the species’ resilience to biotic and abiotic stressors.Additionally, this review highlights the state-of-the-art research resources available for theQuercus genus, including Q. alba, showcasing developments in genetics, genomics, biotechnology, andphenomics tools. This overview lays the groundwork for exploring and elucidating the principlesof longevity in plants, positioning Q. alba as an emerging model tree species, ideally suited forinvestigating the biology of climate-relevant traits.

Keywords

Quercus alba, adaptations, environmental stress, Anthropocene, woody perennial, climaterelevant traits, research resources

Citation

Abbott, Albert G.; Staton, Margaret E.; Lohtka, John M.; DeWald, Laura E.; Zhebentyayeva, Tetyana; Kapoor, Beant; Thomas, Austin M.; Larson, Drew A.; Hadziabdic, Denita; DeBolt, Seth; Nelson, C. Dana; Carlson, John E. 2024. Will “Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow”? White Oak (Quercus alba) Biology in the Anthropocene. Forests. 15(2): 269-. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020269.