Thoughts on the development of forest tree breeding towards intelligent molecular design breeding in China

With the proposal of “Crop Breeding 4.0” being put forward, the developmental direction for the forest tree genetic breeding towards intelligent molecular design breeding has been pointed out in China. In this paper, the concept of ideal varieties and the conditions for their intelligent design implementation were put forward. The research history and existing problems of forest genetics and tree breeding in China were briefly reviewed, and some strategies to promote the development of intelligent molecular design breeding of trees were also proposed. It is believed that forest genetics and tree breeding should aim at the major needs for national forestry development and select important tree species in an organized way and layout. It is necessary to prepare breeding population resources with clear pedigree relationships and trackable allelic variation patterns while promoting high-generation genetic improvement and utilization of the tree species. Moreover, the variation rules and genetic regulatory network of important traits should be analyzed to achieve well-documented gene regulation. Meanwhile, a system of molecular design breeding technology, such as efficient multi-omics big data integration, breeding population construction, parental selection, and progeny screening, also should be established to ensure the methodological basis of the intelligent breeding. As a result, the existing problems in forest genetics and tree breeding of China could be solved, providing ideal conditions for the implementation of intelligent design breeding of trees. In each breeding generation, the latest achievements in theories and technologies of intelligent molecular design breeding should be applied to breeding practice as far as possible, to produce ideal varieties for the current generation with high yield, good quality, and strong resistant, meeting the needs of national forestry development.