Environ Exp Biol (2025) 23: 69–75

Stress-activated retrotransposon sequences in Pinus sylvestris gene regions

Abstract

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) faces increasing threats from climate change related stresses such as heat and fungal pathogens like Heterobasidion annosum. Retrotransposons, mobile genetic elements that are widely distributed in the Scots pine genome, may contribute to stress adaptation. This study analysed 16 retrotransposon families activated under heat stress, comparing them with genomic regions flanking genes that were differentially expressed after fungal inoculation. Results showed that some of the heat-stress activated retrotransposons are also differentially expressed after fungal inoculation and share sequence similarities with genomic regions flanking stress-responsive genes. These findings suggest a potential role of retrotransposons in Scots pine adaptation to a wide range of stress conditions, highlighting the need for further research on their functional significance. This information can be used to understand how long-lived organisms such as Scots pine adapt to changing environmental conditions, providing possible options for the long-term management of forests in the context of climate change.