Abstract:

Recent developments in poplar genomics provide unique resources of new information that we propose to exploit in the context of the POPWOOD programme. The aim is to improve our understanding of genetic and molecular mechanisms controlling vascular development (VD) and wood formation, and enhance engineer transgenic poplars with modified fibres and wood properties. In parallel to the genetic and molecular genetic work, the analysis of juvenile poplar fibre and wood properties will be performed and compared to characteristics of natural wood. The main objective is to evaluate the possibilities of using young trees of just a few years old as a raw material for pulp production, which could offer novel economic opportunities to rapidly exploit transgenic traits.

Objectives: Properties of vascular tissues, such as secondary wall thickness and xylem cell size, represent important parameters that influence wood structure and fibre quality in trees. A gradient of the plant hormone auxin within vascular tissues critically influences such parameters. Genes encoding auxin transport components have been identified in the model plant Arabidopsis (At). Many of the genes regulating vascular properties are likely to be conserved between the dicot tree, hybrid aspen and At.

The POPWOOD programme aims to improve our understanding of the genetic and hormonal regulation of vascular development in hybrid aspen by:

• selecting genes that regulate vascular properties, using a combination of genetic and functional genomic approaches in At;
• manipulating vascular development within transgenic hybrid aspen by targeting the expression of poplar sequences that include auxin transport and signalling; and
• evaluating the novel fibre qualities and wood properties of transgenic lines.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Catherine PERROT-RECHENMANN / Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Institut des Sciences du Vegetale / FRANCE

EC Scientific Officer

• Alexandros ARABATZIS / European Commission DG Research Theme 1 Key Action 5.3 / BELGIUM

Participant

• Max-Delbrück-Laboratorium in der Max-Planck GERMANY
• Sven-Olof LUNDQVIST / STFI - Swedish Pulp and Paper Research Institute SWEDEN
• Malcom BENNETT / School of Biological Sciences of Nottingham UNITED KINGDOM
• Göran SANDBERG / Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitët SWEDEN
• Rainer UHL / TILL Photonics GmbH GERMANY
• Simon TURNER / Victoria University of Manchester UNITED KINGDOM