Molecular Pathogens 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 142-154 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 152 such as Cr1 in sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), which confers resistance to white pine blister rust (WPBR). Transcriptomic studies have revealed differentially expressed genes associated with resistance to pine wilt disease (PWD) in Masson pine (Pinus massoniana), highlighting the role of oxidative stress response and terpenoid biosynthesis in disease resistance. Additionally, advancements in marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection have significantly enhanced breeding programs by enabling the efficient propagation of disease-resistant pine varieties. Continued research is crucial for several reasons. The evolving nature of pathogens necessitates ongoing studies to identify and characterize new resistance genes and understand their mechanisms. This helps in developing durable resistance strategies that can withstand pathogen evolution. Secondly, understanding the ecological and environmental impacts of deploying transgenic pines is vital to ensure sustainable forest management. Research in this area can inform best practices and regulatory frameworks to mitigate potential risks. The integration of advanced technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 for precise gene editing holds promise for developing highly resistant pine varieties, warranting further exploration and development. Future studies should expand genomic and transcriptomic research to include more pine species and populations, enhancing understanding of resistance mechanisms across different environments. Conducting extensive field trials and long-term monitoring of transgenic and MAS-selected pines will assess performance and ecological impacts, refining breeding programs for sustainability. Utilizing advanced technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 for targeted gene editing and exploring synthetic biology can develop enhanced resistance traits. Investigating the broader ecological effects of transgenic pines will ensure balanced forest health. Finally, fostering international collaboration among researchers and policymakers will accelerate the global development and deployment of disease-resistant pines. Acknowledgments We would like to thank two anonymous peer reviewers for their suggestions on this manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Amerson H., Nelson C., Kubisiak T., Kuhlman E., and Garcia S.A., 2015, Identification of nine pathotype-specific genes conferring resistance to fusiform rust in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), Forests, 6(8): 2739-2761. https://doi.org/10.3390/F6082739 Blumenstein K., Langer G., Busskamp J., Langer E., and Terhonen E., 2020, The opportunistic pathogen sphaeropsis sapinea is found to be one of the most abundant fungi in symptomless and diseased scots pine in central-Europe, Journal of Fungi, 7. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-48366/v1 Carrasquinho I., Lisboa A., Inácio M., and Gonçalves E., 2018, Genetic variation in susceptibility to pine wilt disease of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) half-sib families, Annals of Forest Science, 75: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-018-0759-x Gao J.B., Pan T., Chen X.L., Wei Q., and Xu L.Y., 2022, Proteomic analysis of Masson pine with high resistance to pine wood nematodes, PLoS ONE, 17(8): e0273010. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273010 Gazol A., Zobel M., Cantero J., Davison J., Esler K., Jairus T., Öpik M., Vasar M., and Moora M., 2016, Impact of alien pines on local arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities-evidence from two continents, FEMS microbiology ecology, 92(6): fiw073. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiw073 Johnson J.S., and Sniezko R., 2021, Quantitative disease resistance to white pine blister rust at southwestern white pine’s (Pinus strobiformis) northern range, Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 4: 765871. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.765871 Lenz P.R.N., Nadeau S., Mottet M., Perron M., Isabel N., Beaulieu J., and Bousquet J., 2019, Multi‐trait genomic selection for weevil resistance growth and wood quality in Norway spruce, Evolutionary Applications, 13: 76-94. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12823
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