Field and pulping performances of transgenic trees with altered lignification.
The agronomic and pulping performance of transgenic trees with altered lignin has been evaluated in duplicated, long-term field trials. Poplars expressing cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) or caffeate/5-hydroxy-ferulate O-methyltransferase (COMT) antisense transgenes were grown for four years at two sites, in France and England. The trees remained healthy throughout the trial. Growth indicators and interactions with insects were normal. No changes in soil microbial communities were detected beneath the transgenic trees. The expected modifications to lignin were maintained in the transgenics over four years, at both sites. Kraft pulping of tree trunks showed that the reduced-CAD lines had improved characteristics, allowing easier delignification, using smaller amounts of chemicals, while yielding more high-quality pulp. This work highlights the potential of engineering wood quality for more environmentally benign papermaking without interfering with tree growth or fitness.
Pilate
Gilles
G
Unité Amélioration, Génétique et Physiologie Forestières, INRA Orléans, BP 20619, Ardon, 45166 Olivet, France.
Guiney
Emma
E
Holt
Karen
K
Petit-Conil
Michel
M
Lapierre
Catherine
C
Leplé
Jean-Charles
JC
Pollet
Brigitte
B
Mila
Isabelle
I
Webster
Elizabeth A
EA
Marstorp
Håkan G
HG
Hopkins
David W
DW
Jouanin
Lise
L
Boerjan
Wout
W
Schuch
Wolfgang
W
Cornu
Daniel
D
Halpin
Claire
C
D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D017753:Ecosystem; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005602:France; D015870:Gene Expression; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000517:prevention & control; D008031:Lignin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010209:Paper; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D019076:Transgenes; D006113:United Kingdom; D014934:Wood
D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D007220:Industrial Waste; D008031:Lignin; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; C018656:cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase; D008780:Methyltransferases; C019608:caffeate O-methyltransferase