Advances in the genetic improvement of forest species in Latin America: a review

Forest genetic improvement is employed to increase the productivity of commercial forest plantations and involves four main stages: selection of superior trees, provenance/progeny trials, cloning of high-value genotypes, and the establishment of asexual seed orchards for the production of high-genetic-value germplasm. The objective of this review was to compile and synthesize literature on the genetic improvement of forest species in Latin America. The countries with the most significant advances are Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica. The greatest research gap was identified in Central America and the Caribbean. Most studies in the region focus on the selection of superior genotypes and their evaluation in provenance/progeny trials, highlighting the need to broaden the dissemination of findings related to vegetative propagation and asexual seed orchards. Although the extensive introduction of exotic species in Latin America has occurred since the nineteenth century, further research is still needed to improve their adaptation to areas outside their native range. Similarly, the genetic improvement of native species remains scarce compared to the progress made with introduced species.