THE POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN TEMPERATE AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES

Technologies in forest molecular biology and tissue culture could play an increasing role in the choice of genotypes for successful establis hment of agroforestry practices. Research areas such as micropropagati on, somatic embryogenesis, genetic engineering, marker-aided selection , and molecular diagnostics are merging with traditional forest biolog ical studies to help identify and produce better-suited trees for agro forestry plantings. A combination of classical and molecular biologica l research could be used to improve pest and stress resistance of sele cted genotypes, modify structure and function, and monitor pests of tr ees. This merger of approaches, as well as continued technological dev elopment, could accelerate the production and selection of suitable tr ee genotypes for agroforestry plantings.