BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT95-0424 - Tree Improvement Based on Lignin Engineering (TIMBER)

FAIR-CT95-0424
Tree Improvement Based on Lignin Engineering (TIMBER)

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Economics : FAIR Area 1.3 - Forestry-Wood Chain : Plant Genetics : Pulping : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT95-0424
	Total Cost	2 451 078 ECU
	EC Contribution	1 259 000 ECU
	Start Date	01/12/1995
	Duration	48 months

Tree improvement based on lignin engineering (TIMBER)

Objectives

Technical Approach

Lignin is an important component of wood (1/4 of the total biomass) and a major impediment to the manufacture of paper products. Removal of lignin from pulp chips is a major step in the processing of paper, requiring the use of large amounts of energy and of noxious chemicals.

As a consequence of recent advances in the characterisation of lignification genes within the framework of a previous ECLAIR project, it appears possible to genetically manipulate lignin composition and levels. The down regulation of CAD has been already shown to be very promising for the pulp industry.

The goal of the proposed research is to envisage the genetic manipulation of four lignification genes (OMT, CAD, CCR, CCoAOMT). This will be controlled in an induced way, independently or in combination, on a model plant (tobacco) that has been proved to be particularly convenient for this purpose and on target plants poplar, eucalyptus and spruce. The objectives of the present project finally aim:

to provide new woody materials more adapted to the requirements of the pulp industry
to investigate the potential impact of lignin profile modifications on different properties and consequently different exploitations of plant biomass

Expected Results

confirmation and extension of the results obtained on young plants through the antisense RNA strategy to mature trees, (CAD and OMT genes)
obtention of CCR down regulated plants and analysis of their characteristics
cloning characterisation and use for transformation experiments of a new lignification gene : the caffeoyl CoA methyltransferase gene
optimisation of genetic transformation procedure for poplar clones of economic interest Eucalyptus globulus and Picea abies (spruce)
obtention of a finely tuned lignin content and composition in model and target species through the exploitation of a combination of genes and suitable constructs
transformed plants with modified chemical, mechanical and fuel quality properties
transformed materials with improved pulping properties

Applications

All the companies involved in wood processing for pulp production have, as a major objective the reduction in lignin content or the optimisation of the lignin composition of the raw materials. So the genetic transformation of woody materials in order to facilitate the delignification is of prime interest.

Decrease of lignin content will increase pulp yield and easier delignification will induce a reduction in the amounts of chemicals and the facilitated use of new "environmentally friendly" chemicals for bleaching.

In addition, the obtention of woody materials with more lignins (another objective of this project) should result in products with better fuel quality.

Finally, the progress expected in the mastery of genetic transformation techniques for several trees of economic importance should be also exploited in the future for improving traits other than lignification.

Poplar trees

Transgenic poplar trees down regulated for CAD

Contacts

Coordinator

Alain M BOUDET / Toulouse University/CNRS FRANCE

EC Scientific Officer

Ignacio SEOANE / European Commission DG Research Theme 1 Key Action 5.3 / BELGIUM

Participant

Subcontractor