Tree Seedling Development: Technologies, Methods, Affecting Factors, and New Insights

Dear Colleagues,

Ecosystem restoration is a global priority and a powerful tool for reversing biodiversity loss and land degradation. In addition, initiatives such as afforestation, reforestation, and landscape restoration of degraded lands can potentially reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, thus mitigating climate change.

Within this framework, an enormous need exists for sustainably produced forest seedlings with an enhanced ability to survive and grow. This will require seedling resilience, particularly in harsh environments and under recurrent or prolonged biotic and/or abiotic stresses.

In the early stages of tree seedling development, numerous factors impact plant morpho-physiology, plasticity, and adaptive capacity, which is later reflected in the success of forest establishment. Also, the response of seedlings to environmental and anthropogenic constraints is a key factor in recruitment efficiency and biodiversity.

Methods, technologies, and practices to enhance seedling performance vary from seed priming to container and substrate selection, the modulation of growth conditions, the use of biotechnological applications, and fertility and water management. Analysis of seedling growth mechanisms may include an eco-morpho-physiological approach. There is a need for research that can remedy the lack of knowledge regarding species–specific modifications in order to contribute towards achieving better performance after outplanting, seedling recruitment, and biodiversity.

This Special Issue aims to broadly focus on the recent scientific findings on tree seedlings during developmental stages in nurseries, experimentally controlled conditions, the field and natural conditions. Thus, papers focused on nursery production and seedling morpho-physiology, whether in the nursery or after outplanting, are encouraged. These may include empirical and local studies, methodological works, and investigations at molecular, population and ecosystems. We welcome the submission of reviews, original research papers, and short communications focused on biotic, abiotic, and management factors that impact seedling development and output via the use of innovative methods and technologies during seedling production and in-field growth.

Dr. Antonio Montagnoli
Dr. R. Kasten Dumroese
Guest Editors

Anastazija Dimitrova
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• seed
• seedlings
• nursery
• afforestation
• reforestation
• plant physiology
• biotechnology
• plant production
• outplanting