张掖湿地旱柳叶脉密度与水分利用效率的关系

植物叶脉密度与水分利用效率(WUE)的关联性影响着植物水分的供需平衡,为验证植物进化过程中形成的生态适应策略提供了适用性理论依据。该文选择张掖市黑河干流边缘的洪泛平原湿地为实验地,以河岸为起点沿平行河岸线的方向依次设置近水区(样地Ⅰ)、中水区(样地Ⅱ)和远水区(样地Ⅲ)3个水分梯度样地,结合相关分析和标准化主轴分析,研究了水分影响下旱柳(Salix matsudana)叶脉密度与WUE之间的关系。结果表明:随着土壤含水量减少,旱柳林的高度和郁闭度均持续降低,旱柳叶片的叶脉密度、WUE、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、光合有效辐射和饱和水汽压差逐渐增加,比叶面积、气孔导度和胞间CO_2浓度逐渐减小;不同土壤含水量样地旱柳叶脉密度与WUE间的相关性存在差异(p0.05),在样地Ⅰ和样地Ⅲ,叶脉密度与WUE呈极显著正相关关系(p0.01);在样地Ⅱ,两者之间呈显著正相关关系(p0.05);样地Ⅰ叶脉密度与WUE的相关系数显著小于1,样地Ⅱ和样地Ⅲ叶脉密度与WUE的相关系数显著大于1(p0.05)。旱柳植株通过合理调整叶脉密度与WUE间的资源配置,即增加叶脉密度的同时提高叶片的WUE,以补偿水分梯度上的不利因素对种群正常的生理活动带来的影响,反映了该物种在异质生境中具有较强的叶片性状可塑性,从而有利于其适应特殊的湿地生境。     

不同土壤水分条件下洪泛平原湿地芨芨草叶片厚度与叶脉性状的关系北大核心CSCD

叶片厚度和叶脉性状的关联性影响着叶片水分的动态平衡,对揭示植物叶片水分运输与生长速率耦合的生理生态学机制具有重要的意义。该文选择位于张掖市黑河干流边缘的洪泛平原湿地作为实验地,以河边为起点,沿垂直河岸线的方向依次设置I(50.07%)、II(38.77%)、III(31.5%)、IV(20.4%)4个土壤含水量梯度样地,采用标准化主轴估计(SMA)方法,以叶脉密度和叶脉直径分别表示叶脉性状,研究了不同土壤水分条件下芨芨草(Achnatherum splendens)种群的叶片厚度与叶脉性状的生长关系。结果表明:随着湿地群落土壤含水量的逐渐降低,湿地群落的植被密度和高度逐渐降低,土壤电导率逐渐增大;芨芨草的叶脉密度、叶片厚度、水分利用效率和光合有效辐射呈逐渐增加的趋势,叶脉直径、蒸腾速率和分枝数呈逐渐减小的趋势,净光合速率和株高呈先增大后减小的趋势;随着湿地群落土壤含水量的逐渐降低,芨芨草叶片厚度与叶脉密度、叶脉直径的相关性在不同样地间存在差异;芨芨草叶片厚度与叶脉密度呈显著的正相关关系,SMA的斜率呈逐渐减小的趋势,且在样地I和样地IV与1.0存在显著差异;叶片厚度与叶脉直径呈显著的负相关关系,SMA的斜率呈逐渐增大的趋势,且在样地I和样地IV与–1.0存在显著差异。芨芨草在土壤水分较充足的湿地群落倾向于少量粗脉的薄叶片构建方式,在受土壤水分胁迫时选择大量细脉的厚叶片的生长模式,体现了湿地植物在资源异质性分布的生境中根据其功能需求在自身性状之间进行的资源优化配置。     

不同土壤水分条件下洪泛平原湿地芨芨草叶片厚度与叶脉性状的关系

叶片厚度和叶脉性状的关联性影响着叶片水分的动态平衡,对揭示植物叶片水分运输与生长速率耦合的生理生态学机制具有重要的意义。该文选择位于张掖市黑河干流边缘的洪泛平原湿地作为实验地,以河边为起点,沿垂直河岸线的方向依次设置I(50.07%)、II(38.77%)、III(31.5%)、IV(20.4%)4个土壤含水量梯度样地,采用标准化主轴估计(SMA)方法,以叶脉密度和叶脉直径分别表示叶脉性状,研究了不同土壤水分条件下芨芨草(Achnatherum splendens)种群的叶片厚度与叶脉性状的生长关系。结果表明:随着湿地群落土壤含水量的逐渐降低,湿地群落的植被密度和高度逐渐降低,土壤电导率逐渐增大;芨芨草的叶脉密度、叶片厚度、水分利用效率和光合有效辐射呈逐渐增加的趋势,叶脉直径、蒸腾速率和分枝数呈逐渐减小的趋势,净光合速率和株高呈先增大后减小的趋势;随着湿地群落土壤含水量的逐渐降低,芨芨草叶片厚度与叶脉密度、叶脉直径的相关性在不同样地间存在差异;芨芨草叶片厚度与叶脉密度呈显著的正相关关系,SMA的斜率呈逐渐减小的趋势,且在样地I和样地IV与1.0存在显著差异;叶片厚度与叶脉直径呈显著的负相关关系,SMA的斜率呈逐渐增大的趋势,且在样地I和样地IV与–1.0存在显著差异。芨芨草在土壤水分较充足的湿地群落倾向于少量粗脉的薄叶片构建方式,在受土壤水分胁迫时选择大量细脉的厚叶片的生长模式,体现了湿地植物在资源异质性分布的生境中根据其功能需求在自身性状之间进行的资源优化配置。     

秦王川湿地滨藜叶脉性状与蒸腾速率关系对种群密度的响应

植物蒸腾速率与叶性状关系的环境响应,对探索植物碳水代谢关系和叶性状构建模式之间耦合的生理生态学机制具有重要的意义。选择甘肃省秦王川国家湿地公园的盐沼湿地为实验地,按研究区域滨藜(Atriplex patens)植株密度设置Ⅰ(16—21株/m~2)、Ⅱ(9—15株/m~2)、Ⅲ(9株/m~2)3个梯度,采用标准化主轴估计(standardized major axis estimation,SMA)方法,以叶脉密度和中脉直径分别表示叶脉性状,研究了种群密度影响下滨藜蒸腾速率与叶脉性状的关系。结果表明:随种群密度减小,滨藜的中脉直径、株高、盖度、光合有效辐射(PAR)、叶面积(LA)均逐渐降低,而叶脉密度、叶干重、蒸腾速率(T_r)和净光合速率(P_n)逐渐增加。在高密度(Ⅰ)和低密度(Ⅲ)中,滨藜的蒸腾速率和叶脉密度之间存在极显著正相关关系(P0.01),与中脉直径之间存在显著的负相关关系(P0.05);在中密度(Ⅱ)中,滨藜的蒸腾速率与叶脉密度呈显著正相关关系(P0.05),与中脉直径不存在相关关系(P0.05)。在小密度样地,蒸腾速率(T_r)较小,滨藜采取减小叶脉密度、增大中脉直径的策略,即在阴生环境中滨藜叶片需要大的中脉直径来支撑,同时较小的叶脉密度亦可满足其蒸腾需求,体现了密度制约下湿地植物的生物量分配格局和资源利用对策。     

张掖湿地芦苇比叶面积和水分利用效率的关系

密度制约下植物比叶面积与水分利用效率的关系,对于认识土壤-植物-大气的物质循环和能量流动机制具有重要意义。采用样方调查法,研究了3种密度(高密度Ⅰ:210—230株/m~2;中密度Ⅱ:130—150株/m~2;低密度Ⅲ:50—70株/m~2)条件下芦苇种群比叶面积(SLA)和水分利用效率(WUE)的关系。结果表明:随着芦苇种群密度的逐渐降低,湿地群落的土壤含水量逐渐减小,芦苇的株高、叶面积、叶干重、SLA和蒸腾速率(Tr)均呈逐渐减小的趋势,净光合速率(Pn)、叶厚度和WUE呈逐渐增加的趋势;不同密度条件下湿地植物芦苇比叶面积(SLA)与水分利用效率(WUE)的关系存在显著差异(P0.05),在高密度(Ⅰ)与低密度(Ⅲ)样地,芦苇SLA与WUE呈极显著负相关关系(P0.01);在中密度(Ⅱ)样地,二者呈显著负相关关系(P0.05)。不同种群密度的湿地生境中,芦苇通过调整叶片形态构造,使比叶面积和水分利用效率形成了相反的变化趋势,反映了植物适应光照条件、土壤含水量等异质性环境因子的资源利用策略和光合产物积累模式。     

张掖湿地芨芨草叶脉密度和叶脉直径的权衡关系对3种生境的响应

植物叶脉性状间的协同进化影响生理活动中水分利用策略和叶片经济谱的形成,对理解叶片在叶脉建成中的碳投入和叶脉功能回报的经济权衡具有重要的意义。该文结合相关性和标准化主轴估计分析(SMA)方法,研究了张掖洪泛平原湿地乔-草群落冠盖区、过渡区和空旷区3种自然生境下芨芨草(Achnatherum splendens)叶脉密度和叶脉直径的生长关系。结果表明:从湿地群落的冠盖区到空旷区,植物群落光合有效辐射(PAR)和水汽压亏缺(VPD)逐渐增加,土壤含水量(SM)逐渐减小、土壤电导率逐渐增大;芨芨草的叶片宽度(LW)、叶脉密度(1.28–1.59 mm·mm~(-2))和水分利用效率(WUE)呈逐渐增大的趋势,叶片长度(LL)和叶脉直径(0.21–0.16 mm)呈逐渐减小的趋势,叶性状的平均可塑性值为0.19,株丛密度(BD)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和净光合速率(P_n)呈先增大后减小的倒U形趋势;3种生境中芨芨草的WUE、PAR、T_r、P_n与叶脉密度和叶脉直径呈显著的相关关系;叶脉密度与叶脉直径呈不同程度的负相关关系,在冠盖区,芨芨草叶脉密度和叶脉直径呈极显著的负相关关系,在过渡区和空旷区,二者呈显著的负相关关系,从冠盖区到空旷区,SMA斜率逐渐增大(0.54–1.50),冠盖区和空旷区的SMA斜率与1.0存在显著差异。为适应光照环境条件的变化,芨芨草在空旷区具有大量细脉的叶脉网络性状,在冠盖区生长少量粗脉的细长型叶片,即在某一给定的叶片长度下,阴生环境中芨芨草叶片需要更大的叶脉直径来支撑,反映了湿地植物较强的表型可塑性机制。     

张掖湿地芦苇蒸腾速率与叶性状关系对土壤水分的响应

了解植物蒸腾速率与叶性状关系对环境因子响应,对于探索植物碳水代谢关系和叶性状构建模式之间耦合的生理生态学机制具有重要的意义。选择张掖国家湿地公园的沼泽湿地为实验地,按湿地中心向边缘土壤水分依次递减的规律设置Ⅰ(95.70%)、Ⅱ(67.50%)、Ⅲ(50.70%)、Ⅳ(30.17%)4个土壤含水量样地,研究了不同土壤水分影响下芦苇(Phragmites australis)的蒸腾速率与叶面积、叶厚度的关系。结果表明:随着土壤含水量下降,湿地植被群落的高度、盖度和地上生物量均呈现先增加后降低的趋势,芦苇的叶面积(LA)、叶片蒸腾速率(Tr)呈现先增加后降低的趋势,而叶厚度呈增加趋势;芦苇的Tr与LA关系在样地Ⅰ和样地Ⅳ存在极显著正相关(P0.01),Tr与叶厚度关系在样地Ⅰ存在极显著正相关(P0.01),而在样地Ⅳ呈极显著负相关(P0.01);在样地Ⅱ和Ⅲ,芦苇的Tr与LA、叶厚度之间呈显著正相关(P0.05)。在土壤水分饱和与土壤水分胁迫的样地,芦苇分别采取了小而薄和小而厚的叶片构建模式,实现了低Tr;而在土壤水分适中的样地芦苇采取了大而薄的叶片资源投资策略,实现了较高的Tr,反映了植物种群适应异质生境的表型可塑性机制。     

敦煌阳关湿地芦苇叶性状对土壤水分的响应

为了了解干旱区湿地不同水分梯度下芦苇叶性状的构建模式及对不同水分环境的适应策略差异性,以敦煌阳关渥洼池湿地植物芦苇(Phragmites australis)为研究对象,分析不同水分梯度下芦苇叶性状对土壤水分的响应。结果表明:(1)低水分梯度下的叶厚度(LT)和叶片磷含量(LPC)显著高于中、高水分梯度(P0.05),高水分梯度下的叶碳含量(LCC)也显著高于中、低水分梯度(P0.05)。(2)芦苇叶性状之间的关系也因水分的变化而有所不同。就整体而言,叶片碳含量与叶干物质含量(LDMC)极显著正相关(P0.01);叶厚度与叶片磷含量极显著正相关(P0.01),比叶面积(SLA)与叶氮含量(LNC)极显著正相关(P0.01)、与叶碳氮比(C/N)极显著负相关(P0.01)。(3)在水分作为限制因素的条件下,叶片碳含量与比叶面积对水分的响应最为突出。土壤含水量与叶厚度、叶碳含量和叶片磷含量均显著负相关(P0.05)。芦苇在低水分环境下采取高收入低投入的积极型生存策略,高水分下则采取低获取高消耗的保守型生存策略,说明了芦苇在适应异质生境的自我调节机制。     

张掖湿地旱柳冠层内垂直层次光截获与叶片光合生理特性的关系

林冠光能截取(LI)与叶片光合生理特性的关联性反映了植物功能性状对光环境变化的响应及适应,是冠层结构和环境条件综合作用的结果。在张掖市黑河干流边缘的洪泛平原湿地随机选择10个样地,按等分原则将样地内的旱柳(Salix matsudana)冠层分为上、中、下3个层次,研究了旱柳冠层各层次LI与叶片蒸腾速率(T_r)、净光合速率(P_n)的相互关系。结果表明:随着旱柳冠层下降,叶面积指数(LAI)、平均叶倾角(MLA)、叶厚度、光合有效辐射(PAR)、LI、T_r和P_n均呈逐渐减小趋势,叶面积呈逐渐增加趋势,叶片含水量呈先增大后减小的趋势,叶片聚集类型由聚集为主转向分散为主;在树冠上层和下层,LI与T_r、P_n均呈显著正相关(P0.05),中层呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。在旱柳冠层内部,上层倾向于减小LI、T_r与P_n的保守性生存模式,中层和下层选择增大LI、T_r与P_n的开拓性模式,反映了湿地植物在异质性生境中根据其功能需求在自身性状之间进行的资源优化配置。     

秦王川盐沼湿地芦苇比叶面积与叶片热耗散的关联性分析

植物比叶面积(SLA)与叶片热耗散的关联性分析,对于探究植物光合产物积累与耗散及其适应特殊生境有重要意义。该研究以秦王川国家湿地公园芦苇(Phragmites australis)种群为研究对象,根据距离水域的远近分别依次设置3个试验样地:Ⅰ(离水域25–40 m,土壤含水量(SM)28.94%)、Ⅱ(离水域10–25 m,SM 45.97%)、Ⅲ(离水域0–10 m,SM 76.81%),研究了秦王川盐沼湿地芦苇SLA与叶片热耗散的关系。结果表明:随着土壤含水量的增加,湿地植被群落的高度和地上生物量呈现逐渐增加的趋势,土壤电导率和光合有效辐射呈显著减小的趋势;叶面积、净光合速率和蒸腾速率均呈增加的趋势,叶厚度呈减少的趋势,SLA呈现先增加后减小的趋势,叶干质量呈现先减少后增加的趋势;从样地Ⅰ到样地Ⅲ,调节性能量耗散的量子产额(Y(NPQ))、非光化学淬灭系数呈减少的趋势,实际光合效率、光化学淬灭系数呈增加的趋势,非调节性能量耗散的量子产额呈先增加后减少的趋势;在样地Ⅰ和Ⅲ,芦苇SLA与Y(NPQ)呈极显著负相关关系(p0.01),在样地Ⅱ,SLA与Y(NPQ)显著负相关(p0.05)。随土壤含水量的梯度性变化,芦苇种群通过调整叶片构建模式从而适时调整SLA的大小以改变叶片热耗散,实现对植物吸收光能的有效利用,反映了植物为适应特殊生境通过改变表型调控叶片热耗散实现自我保护的机制。     

Distribution of chloride in tobacco laminae and midribs as influenced by the chloride content of the irrigation water

The high variability of the ratio of midrib to lamina chloride in tobacco leaves delivered to the curing plant prompted two experiments which aimed to identify some of the causes of such variability. In young tobacco plants chloride concentration was highest in the third or fourth leaf from the base of the plant, but in more mature plants (when the inflorescence began to appear) leaf chloride increased linearly from the apex to the base of the plant. The ratio of the concentration of midrib chloride to that of lamina chloride was always highest in the basal leaves, and decreased with increasing chloride concentration in the irrigation water,i.e. with increasing chloride supply more chloride went to the lamina than to the midrib per unit dry weight. This was verified with reported chloride contents for two irrigation experiments.     

Structure of the cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase gene family in rice and promoter activity of a member associated with lignification

Analysis of lignification in rice has been facilitated by the availability of the recently completed rice genome sequence, and rice will serve as an important model for understanding the relationship of grass lignin composition to cell wall digestibility. Cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) is an enzyme important in lignin biosynthesis. The rice genome contains 12 distinct genes present at nine different loci that encode products with significant similarity to CAD. The rice gene family is diverse with respect to other angiosperm and gymnosperm CAD genes isolated to date and includes one member (OsCAD6) that contains a peroxisomal targeting signal and is substantially diverged relative to other family members. Four closely related family members (OsCAD8A–D) are present at the same locus and represent the product of a localized gene duplication and inversion. Promoter-reporter gene fusions to OsCAD2, an orthologue of the CAD gene present at the bm1 (brown midrib 1) locus of maize, reveal that in rice expression is associated with vascular tissue in aerial parts of the plant and is correlated with the onset of lignification. In root tissue, expression is primarily in the cortical parenchyma adjacent to the exodermis and in vascular tissue.     

Genetic background impacts soluble and cell wall-bound aromatics in <Emphasis Type="Italic">brown midrib</Emphasis> mutants of sorghum

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.). Moench) BMR-6 and BMR-12 encode cinnamylalcohol dehydrogenase and caffeic acid-O-methyltransferase, respectively. We have evaluated the impact of two bmr alleles, bmr-6 and bmr-12, respectively, on soluble and wall-bound aromatics in near isogenic, wild-type (WT), bmr-6, bmr-12 and double-mutant (DM; bmr-6 and bmr-12) plants in two genetic backgrounds, RTx430 and Wheatland. Immunoblots confirmed that COMT protein was essentially absent in bmr-12 and DM plants, but was present in bmr-6 and WT plants. In contrast, although CAD activity was not detected in bmr-6 and DM plants, proteins crossreacting to anti-CAD sera were found in stem extracts from all genotypes. In both sorghum backgrounds, WT plants had lowest amounts of free aromatics, higher levels of cell wall-bound pCA and FA esters and guaiacyl (G), syringyl (S), and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) lignins. Soluble aromatics and cell wall phenolic ester content in Wheatland DM plants resembled that of Wheatland bmr-6 plants, whereas in the RTx430 background, levels of these components in the DM plants more closely resembled those observed in bmr-12 plants. In both backgrounds, bmr-6 plants exhibited reduced levels of G, S, and H lignins relative to WT, and increased incorporation of G-indene into lignin. In bmr-12 plants, there was greater incorporation of G- and 5-hydroxyguaiacyl (5-OHG) lignin into cell walls. Histochemical staining of internode sections from Wheatland plants indicated that apparent lignification of cortical sclerenchyma and vascular bundle fibers was greatest and most uniform in WT plants. Relative staining intensity of these tissues was decreased in bmr-6, followed by bmr-12 plants. DM plants exhibited poor staining of cortical sclerenchyma and vascular bundle fibers. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

Assessment of a brown midrib (BMR) mutant gene on the nutritive value of sudangrass using in vitro and in vivo techniques

The brown midrib (BMR) gene has been reported to reduce the lignin concentration in plants, which contributed to increased fiber digestion in ruminants. Three studies were completed to compare the digestibility of a BMR mutant of sudangrass (sorghum bicolor subsp. Drummondii) versus a non-BMR (‘Piper’) variety when included in diets fed to sheep (Study 1), to complete a rumen in vitro assessment of sheep and lactating cow diets (Study 2), and to compare digestibility when included in the diet fed to lactating dairy cows (Study 3). Four wether sheep were used in a 2 × 2 Latin square experiment (Study 1) with total fecal collection to determine total tract apparent digestibility of pelleted Piper (P) and BMR (P-BMR) sudangrass hays. Forage pellets consisted of either P-BMR or P hay with added urea to meet the maintenance crude protein (CP) requirement of the sheep. Digestibility of organic matter (OM; P<0.01), dry matter (DM; P<0.01), acid detergent fiber (ADF; P<0.05), and neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom; P<0.07) was higher for P-BMR than P sudangrass. In vitro rumen digestibility of aNDFom using cattle rumen fluid was higher at 24 (P<0.01), 48 (P<0.01) and 72 h (P<0.01) of fermentation for P-BMR versus P (Study 2). Four lactating Holstein dairy cows (251 ± 30 days in milk) and fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. Total mixed rations (TMR) contained 180 g/kg DM shredded sudangrass hay and 180 g/kg sliced alfalfa hay, but the proportion of P to P-BMR sudangrass varied as 100:0, 66:34, 34:66, or 0:100. Yields of milk and milk protein were highest at the 66:34 level (Quadratic: P=0.06 and 0.07, respectively), but composition of milk fat, protein and lactose, as well as DM intake, did not differ (Study 3), probably because forestomach and total tract apparent digestion of aNDFom and OM did not differ due to sudangrass source.     

Molecular characterization of a brown midrib3 deletion mutation in maize

The caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene plays an important role in the synthesis of lignin. We have used the polymerase chain reaction in conjuction with genomic analysis to characterize deletion mutations of this gene in maize. In addition, we have analyzed and compared regions of the COMT gene from three distinct heterotic groups. Both PCR and Southern analysis indicate that the active wild-type COMT gene can be polymorphic. We suggest that the intron domain of at least one heterotic inbred can contribute to the alteration of the wild-type gene. In addition, multiple deletion mutations have occurred at this locus. We have found a previously uncharacterized deletion mutation in which segments of both the intron and exon have been deleted and replaced by other sequences. Precise knowledge of its sequence has allowed us to develop an assay by which we can follow this mutation in a breeding program.     

国产杜鹃花叶解剖与分类群

报道了分别隶属于杜鹃花属 ( Rhododendron)中 8个亚属的国产 33个种叶片的解剖特征。根据中脉维管束结构特点 :木质部与韧皮部的位置 ,木质部的形状 ,木射线排列的方式 ,可分为 5个类型 :( 1)圆形周韧维管束 ;( 2 )羽线肾形周韧维管束 ;( 3)扇线肾形周韧维管束 ;( 4 )近周韧维管束 ;( 5)下韧维管束。讨论了中脉维管束类型可能的演化趋势 :周韧维管束→近周韧维管束→下韧维管束。还讨论了 8个亚属中脉维管束所处的演化阶段     

Adsorption of Microbial β-Amylase on Starch

The effect of lime pretreatment of brown midrib sorghums on enzymatic saccharification was investigated. Under most of the pretreatment conditions, the saccharification yields of bmrs were higher than those of the normal counterparts. This result suggests that bmr is useful to reduce pretreatment costs, because the amount of lime necessary for the pretreatment of biomass can reduced by using bmr mutants.     

Improvement of biomass through lignin modification

Lignin, a major component of the cell wall of vascular plants, has long been recognized for its negative impact on forage quality, paper manufacturing, and, more recently, cellulosic biofuel production. Over the last two decades, genetic and biochemical analyses of brown midrib mutants of maize, sorghum and related grasses have advanced our understanding of the relationship between lignification and forage digestibility. This work has also inspired genetic engineering efforts aimed at generating crops with altered lignin, with the expectation that these strategies would enhance forage digestibility and/or pulping efficiency. The knowledge gained from these bioengineering efforts has greatly improved our understanding of the optimal lignin characteristics required for various applications of lignocellulosic materials while also contributing to our understanding of the lignin biosynthetic pathway. The recent upswing of interest in cellulosic biofuel production has become the new focus of lignin engineering. Populus trichocarpa and Brachypodium distachyon are emerging as model systems for energy crops. Lignin research on these systems, as well as on a variety of proposed energy crop species, is expected to shed new light on lignin biosynthesis and its regulation in energy crops, and lead to rational genetic engineering approaches to modify lignin for improved biofuel production.