title: Field and pulping performances of transgenic trees with altered lignification.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Unité Amélioration, Génétique et Physiologie Forestières, INRA Orléans, BP 20619, Ardon, 45166 Olivet, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pilate
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guiney
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petit-Conil
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lapierre
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leplé
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pollet
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mila
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Håkan G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Marstorp
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jouanin
authors.forename: Wout
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boerjan
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schuch
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cornu
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Halpin
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D007220:Industrial Waste; D008031:Lignin; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; C018656:cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase; D008780:Methyltransferases; C019608:caffeate O-methyltransferase