title: Genetic engineering of woody plants: current and future targets in a stressful environment.
abstract: Abiotic stress is a major factor in limiting plant growth and productivity. Environmental degradation, such as drought and salinity stresses, will become more severe and widespread in the world. To overcome severe environmental stress, plant biotechnologies, such as genetic engineering in woody plants, need to be implemented. The adaptation of plants to environmental stress is controlled by cascades of molecular networks including cross-talk with other stress signaling mechanisms. The present review focuses on recent studies concerning genetic engineering in woody plants for the improvement of the abiotic stress responses. Furthermore, it highlights the recent advances in the understanding of molecular responses to stress. The review also summarizes the basis of a molecular mechanism for cell wall biosynthesis and the plant hormone responses to regulate tree growth and biomass in woody plants. This would facilitate better understanding of the control programs of biomass production under stressful conditions.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan. ayosa@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osakabe
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kajita
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osakabe
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D018533:Biomass; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D023281:Genomics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D014197:Trees / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators