Researchers from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture,
Indiana University, the University of Kentucky, the U.S. Forest Service, and
several other institutions have, for the first time, described the complex
genome of the white oak (Quercus alba). This tree is a keystone species and
one of the most abundant trees in eastern North America.



The study, published in New Phytologist, examines the genetic diversity and
population differentiation of Q. alba. It explores how gene content and
disease resistance genes have evolved throughout the history of Quercus and
its related species. The authors also discuss the evolutionary relationships
among oak species, supported by whole genome data.



Additionally, the study highlights the significant genetic variation within
white oak populations and their local adaptations, which will impact how Q.
alba and other white oak species respond to increasing heat and drought
stress in the future.



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