Forest biotechnology: Innovative methods, emerging opportunities |
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Authors: | Narender S Nehra Michael R Becwar William H Rottmann Leslie Pearson Kamal Chowdhury Shujun Chang H Dayton Wilde Robert J Kodrzycki Chunsheng Zhang Katrina C Gause Dawn W Parks Maud A Hinchee |
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Institution: | (1) ArborGen, P. O. Box 840001, 29484-8401 Summerville, SC |
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Abstract: | Summary The productivity of plantation forests is essential to meet the future world demand for wood and wood products in a sustainable
fashion and in a manner that preserves natural stands and biodiversity. Plantation forestry has enormously benefited from
development and implementation of improved silvicultural and forest management practices during the past century. A second
wave of improvements has been brought about by the introduction of new germplasm developed through genetics and breeding efforts
for both hardwood and conifer tree species. Coupled with the genetic gains achieved through tree breeding, the emergence of
new biotechnological approaches that span the fields of plant developmental biology, genetic transformation, and discovery
of genes associated with complex multigenic traits have added a new dimension to forest tree improvement programs. Significant
progress has been made during the past five years in the area of plant regeneration via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis
(SE) for economically important tree species. These advances have not only helped the development of efficient gene transfer
techniques, but also have opened up avenues for deployment of new high-performance clonally replicated planting stocks in
forest plantations. One of the greatest challenges today is the ability to extend this technology to the most elite germplasm,
such that it becomes an, economically feasible means for large-scale production and delivery of improved planting stock. Another
challenge will be the ability of the forestry research community to capitalize rapidly on current and future genomics-based
elucidation of the underlying mechanisms for important but complex phenotypes. Advancements in gene cloning and genomics technology
in forest trees have enabled the discovery and introduction of value-added traits for wood quality and resistance to biotic
and abiotic stresses into improved genotypes. With these technical advancements, it will be necessary for reliable regulatory
infrastructures and processes to be in place worldwide for testing and release of trees improved through biotechnology. Commercialization
of planting stocks, as new varieties generated through clonal propagation and advanced breeding programs or as transgenic
trees with high-value traits, is expected in the near future, and these trees will enhance the quality and productivity of
our plantation forests. |
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Keywords: | conifers hardwoods somatic embryogenesis transformation gene discovery plantation forestry tree genomics |
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