The contribution made by molecular biology to our knowledge of the ecology and silviculture of wild service trees (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz)

In European forestry, there is an increased need for a reliable inventory of genetic resources and the use of less traditional tree species is on the rise. An example of this is the wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz). This review covers the scientific literature that deals with the genetics of the wild service tree, with a specific focus on the contribution made by molecular biology and how they translate to our current knowledge of its biology and future practical needs for silviculture. The highest number of papers on molecular biology were found in France, Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom, with the highest number of publications released in the decade from 2000 to 2010. In phylogenetics, the DNA sequences studied are traditionally limited to plastomes and nuclear ribosomal spacers. When it comes to population diversity studies, microsatellite markers dominate. Research efforts that rely on molecular biology made a significant contribution to the knowledge, preservation and cultivation of the wild service tree. Prior genetic knowledge of the species can be a useful tool for later management and conservation of genetic resources. However, there is still a significant gap between the theory and practice that needs to be closed. Furthermore, nurseries and breeding programs may need to make better informed decisions in the future, which may require the mapping of more sequences of the genome of wild service trees and the development of new DNA markers related to specific traits, which are not currently available.