Abstract:

Willows are a prominent group of native tree species in China, mainly due to the large quantities, wide distribution, abundant variation, fast growing and easy propagating. Willows have extensive and critical ecological and economic values as multi-functional tree species that serve for landscape planting, ecological protection, bioremediation and as an important wood source for timber, bioenergy and weaving. In recent years, willow research has developed rapidly in China. A large number of improved varieties or new varieties have been selected through conventional breeding, and major breakthroughs in genetics and genomics made China as a world leader in these fields. In this paper, we systematically summarize the progresses of willow mainly focused on taxonomy and distribution, germplasm collection, conservation as well as evaluation, genetic improvement, and molecular genetics around 60 years in China. Meanwhile, we analyzed the problems on genetic breeding at present and discussed the major prospects in future in order to promote the level of willow research in China, provide useful information for genetic breeding research of other woody plants.

Key words: willow, genetic variation, molecular marker, whole genome, bioenergy, bioremediation