Ebook: Tree Transgenesis: Recent Developments

A continuous development in plant biotechnology including gene technology has been observable during the past 20 years. Different methods elaborated with model plants were also applied to forest trees on a larger scale. Whereas in the beginning the meaning of the term “plant biotechnology” embraced a wide variety of meanings like, e. g. , regeneration of plantlets via tissue culture, embryo rescue, somatic embryogenesis and gene transfer, the focus of this term has changed more and more. Nowadays, it is the transfer of genes which comes into mind when plant biotechnology is discussed, including of course the evaluation of all challenges and risks related to gene transfer methods. Compared with annual plants, especially in the field of agriculture, the work and the progress with transgenic trees is still in its infancy. Nevertheless, but often unnoticed by the scientific community, there are a few countries which already allow the commercial use of a restricted number of transgenic tree clones after different critical steps of approval. This and the ongoing improvement in transgenic research in trees led to the idea of preparing a summary of the present state of the art from different points of view. With the help of a number of authors directly or indirectly involved in tree transgenesis, this book was produced.

---

Tree improvement is necessary to meet the growing demand for renewable wood resource. Many novel possibilities to obtain improved species are offered by biotechnology, and the time is ripe for a critical evaluation of the chances and challenges of tree transgenesis.

Sixteen chapters by experts in the field provide concise information on the present state of the following topics: transgenic trees in the world; environmental aspects of lignin-modified trees; modification of cellulose in wood; heavy metal resistance and phytoremediation with transgenic trees; transgenic approaches to engineer nitrogen metabolism; disease resistance; drought tolerance.

In addition, biosafety and risk assessment are treated in detail, and future experimental tasks are discussed. The book provides a sound basis for decision-making processes in politics.

---

Tree improvement is necessary to meet the growing demand for renewable wood resource. Many novel possibilities to obtain improved species are offered by biotechnology, and the time is ripe for a critical evaluation of the chances and challenges of tree transgenesis.

Sixteen chapters by experts in the field provide concise information on the present state of the following topics: transgenic trees in the world; environmental aspects of lignin-modified trees; modification of cellulose in wood; heavy metal resistance and phytoremediation with transgenic trees; transgenic approaches to engineer nitrogen metabolism; disease resistance; drought tolerance.

In addition, biosafety and risk assessment are treated in detail, and future experimental tasks are discussed. The book provides a sound basis for decision-making processes in politics.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xix
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Field Trials with Transgenic Trees – State of the Art and Developments....Pages 3-23
Transgenic Forest Trees in China....Pages 25-45
Modification of Perennial Fruit Trees....Pages 47-66
Genetic Transformation of Some Tropical Trees, Shrubs, and Tree-like Plants....Pages 67-102
Front Matter....Pages 103-103
Environmental Aspects of Lignin Modified Trees....Pages 105-122
Modification of Cellulose in Wood....Pages 123-136
Heavy Metal Resistance and Phytoremediation with Transgenic Trees....Pages 137-155
Transgenic Approaches to Engineer Nitrogen Metabolism....Pages 157-178
Front Matter....Pages 179-179
Virus Resistance Breeding in Fruit Trees....Pages 181-199
The Use of Genetic Transformation Procedures to Study the Defence and Disease Resistance Traits of Trees....Pages 201-234
Fungal and Bacterial Resistance in Transgenic Trees....Pages 235-252
Genetically Modified Trees Expressing Genes for Insect Pest Resistance....Pages 253-273
Towards Genetic Engineering for Drought Tolerance in Trees....Pages 275-297
Front Matter....Pages 299-299
Genome Instability in Woody Plants Derived from Genetic Engineering....Pages 301-321
Investigation of Horizontal Gene Transfer from Transgenic Aspen to Ectomycorrhizal Fungi....Pages 323-333
Transgenic Temperate Fruit Tree Rootstocks....Pages 335-350
Back Matter....Pages 351-357

---

Tree improvement is necessary to meet the growing demand for renewable wood resource. Many novel possibilities to obtain improved species are offered by biotechnology, and the time is ripe for a critical evaluation of the chances and challenges of tree transgenesis.

Sixteen chapters by experts in the field provide concise information on the present state of the following topics: transgenic trees in the world; environmental aspects of lignin-modified trees; modification of cellulose in wood; heavy metal resistance and phytoremediation with transgenic trees; transgenic approaches to engineer nitrogen metabolism; disease resistance; drought tolerance.

In addition, biosafety and risk assessment are treated in detail, and future experimental tasks are discussed. The book provides a sound basis for decision-making processes in politics.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xix
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Field Trials with Transgenic Trees – State of the Art and Developments....Pages 3-23
Transgenic Forest Trees in China....Pages 25-45
Modification of Perennial Fruit Trees....Pages 47-66
Genetic Transformation of Some Tropical Trees, Shrubs, and Tree-like Plants....Pages 67-102
Front Matter....Pages 103-103
Environmental Aspects of Lignin Modified Trees....Pages 105-122
Modification of Cellulose in Wood....Pages 123-136
Heavy Metal Resistance and Phytoremediation with Transgenic Trees....Pages 137-155
Transgenic Approaches to Engineer Nitrogen Metabolism....Pages 157-178
Front Matter....Pages 179-179
Virus Resistance Breeding in Fruit Trees....Pages 181-199
The Use of Genetic Transformation Procedures to Study the Defence and Disease Resistance Traits of Trees....Pages 201-234
Fungal and Bacterial Resistance in Transgenic Trees....Pages 235-252
Genetically Modified Trees Expressing Genes for Insect Pest Resistance....Pages 253-273
Towards Genetic Engineering for Drought Tolerance in Trees....Pages 275-297
Front Matter....Pages 299-299
Genome Instability in Woody Plants Derived from Genetic Engineering....Pages 301-321
Investigation of Horizontal Gene Transfer from Transgenic Aspen to Ectomycorrhizal Fungi....Pages 323-333
Transgenic Temperate Fruit Tree Rootstocks....Pages 335-350
Back Matter....Pages 351-357
....