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TREE IMPROVEMENT BASED ON LIGNIN ENGINEERING

Ziel

The main objectives of this project concern the improvement of several trees of economic importance for the european market (poplar, eucalyptus, norway spruce) through an optimization of their lignin profiles.

The recent advances in the characterization of lignification genes by different teams involved in this project and the progress in the design of genetic transformation procedures for forest trees allow
an orientated modification of lignin content and composition by the techniques of genetic engineering (antisense RNA strategy). The modifications envisaged aim in priority to reduce the lignin content and/or to alter the lignin composition of woody materials in order to increase the pulp yield and to use less the noxious chemicals for lignin extraction in pulp industry. Secondarily, the project aims to increase the lignin content of trees in order to improve the energy potential and fuel quality of wood used as fuel product.

To reach these objectives this project envisage :
- the confirmation and extension of the results obtained on young plants to
mature trees;
- the obtention of a finely tuned lignin content and composition in model and
target species through the extensive exploitation of additional genes of
lignification and suitable constructs;
- the extension of the most interesting results to tress and clones economic
interest for the European industry (including gymnosperms);
- the careful investigation of the chemical, mechanical and fuel quality properties
of transformed plants;
- the investigation of the improved pulping properties of the transformed materials
through the most up-to-date process of pulp industry. The proposal will envisage
the genetic manipulation of five lignification genes, which will be controlled in an
induced way independently or in combination, on poplar, eucalyptus and spruce.

The use of a large number of different constructs coupled to various transformation experiments (single and multiple transformations) is envisaged in this project. It will be
then necessary to perform exploratory experiments on a model plant (tobacco) which has been proved to be particularly convenient for this purpose.
This proposal will consider in detail the chemical, biochemical and cellular changes (structure of lignins, enzymes, cell-wall and soluble phenolics...) induced by
transformation. Such information will lead to a deeper insight into the process of lignification, increasing the efficiency of rationally designed modification.
Finally, studies on the impact of different transformation strategies plant growth and development will be assessed in both green house and field grown plants.
The group is composed :
* of an upstream component including :
- the teams which characterized lignification genes for the first time;
- groups specialized in genetic engineering of tress;
- lignin chemists and
* of a downstream component including:
- specialists from the pulp industry;
- a company widely open to the exploitation and development of products
resulting from genetic engineering.

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Finanzierungsplan

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Koordinator

C.N.R.S. - DELEGATION REGIONALE MIDI PYRENEES
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ROUTE DE NARBONNE, 118
31062 TOULOUSE CEDEX
Frankreich

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Letzte Aktualisierung: 27 November 1996

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/FAIR950424/de

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