Currently, Mediterranean forests are experiencing the deleterious effects of global warming,
which mainly include increased temperatures and decreased precipitation in the region. Relict Abies
pinsapo fir forests, endemic in the southern Iberian Peninsula, are especially sensitive to these recent
environmental disturbances, and identifying the genes involved in the response of this endangered
tree species to climate-driven stresses is of paramount importance for mitigating their effects. Genomic
resources for A. pinsapo allow for the analysis of candidate genes reacting to warming and aridity in
their natural habitats. Several members of the complex gene families encoding late embryogenesis
abundant proteins (LEAs) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) have been found to exhibit differential
expression patterns between wet and dry seasons when samples from distinct geographical locations
and dissimilar exposures to the effects of climate change were analyzed. The observed changes were
more perceptible in the roots of trees, particularly in declining forests distributed at lower altitudes in
the more vulnerable mountains. These findings align with previous studies and lay the groundwork
for further research on the molecular level. Molecular and genomic approaches offer valuable insights
for mitigating climate stress and safeguarding this endangered conifer.
