Transcriptomic profiling of drought tolerance mechanisms in Quercus robur: Identifying genetic markers for two related but contrasting oak genotypes

Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of droughts, posing a significant threat to temperate forests. Quercus robur L. (English oak), a dominant species in European deciduous forests, exhibits genetic variation in drought tolerance. The aim of this project is to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance by comparing transcriptomic responses in drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive oak genotypes under water stress.