Extract the roots: studying the DNA of ancient tree species will help create plantations of "eternal" plants in the North

Experts have studied the DNA of coniferous trees preserved in the sediments of lakes and swamps of Eurasia and Alaska. This made it possible to reconstruct the genetic history of these species over the past 40 thousand years, trace the ways of their settlement and identify natural "shelters" where plants experienced unfavorable climatic periods. It was such territories that became peculiar evolutionary "laboratories" in which different species met, exchanged genes and formed new lineages. The results obtained open up opportunities for the development of bioecoengineering technologies. In particular, we are talking about creating forest plantations with specified beneficial properties that are resistant to the conditions of the Russian North. However, such solutions can be expensive, so it is important to find economically viable ways to use them, experts said in an interview with Izvestia.

How lakes preserve the genetic history of plants

Scientists from the Vavilov Institute of General Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Siberian Federal University have participated in a major international project aimed at tracing the genetic history of coniferous trees over the past 40,000 years. The study involved experts from a dozen and a half organizations in Russia, Europe and the USA.

While working on the project, they studied the DNA of ancient plants in the sediments of lakes and swamps in Eurasia. The data obtained helped to reconstruct which processes influenced the appearance of modern taiga ecosystems. They also provided an opportunity to propose techniques that will help grow beneficial ecosystems in climatically difficult conditions, in particular, in the Russian North.

— Bottom sediments can be compared with a natural archive. Every year, the remains of organic matter, pollen, and DNA fragments of organisms that lived at that time settle to the depths of the lakes. Over time, successive layers form, similar to the pages of a book. They can be used to reconstruct the genetic history of ecosystems," Konstantin Krutovsky, a leading researcher at IOGen RAS, professor of the department and head of the Laboratory of Forest Genomics at the Institute of Fundamental Biology and Biotechnology of SibFU, told Izvestia.

He noted that the peculiarity of the new technique is that scientists have learned how to extract and "read" the smallest fragments of ancient genetic material. They have developed a system of DNA markers that allows not only to distinguish between genera, but also to identify areas where their mixing took place.

In their work, experts reconstructed the history of four coniferous genera — spruce, pine, larch and fir. The study covered 19 reservoirs in Eurasia and Alaska. As a result, scientists have traced the ways of tree settlement for thousands of years.

How trees survived the ice ages

The modern appearance of coniferous forests was formed under the influence of glacial cycles, experts noted. One of the discoveries of the study was the identification of refugiums — areas with a milder climate, where species could survive during unfavorable periods. After the end of the glaciations, these shelters became sources of new tree settlement.

— Refugiums acted as "hybrid cauldrons" where different species met and could exchange genes. Such natural interbreeding increased diversity, promoted the emergence of new gene combinations, increased the ability of plants to adapt to climate change, and sometimes led to the emergence of new evolutionary lines. In fact, these are evolutionary "laboratories," Konstantin Krutovsky explained.

In particular, in Russia, scientists have discovered "shelters" for trees in Taimyr, southern Yakutia and the Far East, the expert said. Conifers in them survived the last glacial maximum (about 19-23 thousand years ago). Lama Lake on the Putorana plateau turned out to be particularly rich in finds, where traces of all the studied species were found.

— The data obtained is of practical importance. If it is known which populations have successfully survived drastic climate changes in the past, they may prove to be the most resilient in the future. The use of such planting material increases the likelihood of creating long—lasting forests," the scientist noted.

In his opinion, ancient DNA samples can become a tool for searching for genes responsible for plant resistance to drought, frost and disease. This will make it possible to select the most viable species for forestry in difficult climatic conditions. In the future, such approaches can become the basis for the development of bioengineering solutions necessary for the economic development of the Russian Arctic.

So, with the help of targeted plantings, special forest belts can be created to strengthen river banks and protect infrastructure, cedar tracts can be formed to collect nuts and butter, and larch plantations can be planted to produce durable construction wood.

What biotechnologies will be developed in Russia

— Bioeconomics is one of the main technological trends in the world today. The volume of the biotechnology market has already exceeded $4 trillion. Leading countries are actively investing in this area, striving to take a leading position. This is a race for the future," said Vladimir Pinaev, Associate professor at the Patrice Lumumba Institute of Ecology of the RUDN University, scientific director of the Renaissance of Nature Educational Center, member of the Public Council of the Basic Organization of the CIS Member States for Environmental Education, editor—in—chief of the online magazine Waste and Resources.

According to him, the current volume of the Russian biotechnology market is about 450 billion rubles. This sector has been identified as one of the strategic priorities. In particular, at the end of last year, a corresponding national project was approved, providing for a 96% increase in the production of bioeconomics products over five years. In this area, Russia has a significant competitive advantage: about 17% of the world's biological resources are located on its territory.

— The practical application of the proposed methods is an opportunity to draw conclusions about which genes determined the ability of species to adapt to new conditions. This issue has not been sufficiently studied with higher plants, and such studies will make a significant contribution to its study and contribute to the development of bioecoengineering technologies," said Peter Kamensky, professor at the Faculty of Biology of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

For example, among the ancient DNA, it is possible to identify still unknown genes that give plants resistance to cold, the scientist added. Based on them, in the future, it may be possible to breed tree species that are better adapted to growth in the northern regions.

According to the expert, Russia has the necessary resources, scientific schools and technical facilities to carry out such work. However, do not forget about the economy. These technologies may be too expensive, so you need to choose rational ways to use them.