Forest Biotechnology

Forest biotechnology is a 50-year-old science that uses molecular biology to improve aspects of tree metabolism and wood and fiber production. Molecular biology is the science of isolating and studying genes that carry specific traits in living things. It often includes recombinant engineering in which a scientist transfers one or more desirable genes into a different tree species. Forest biotechnology therefore uses recombinant techniques for the purpose of bringing favorable attributes into a population of native trees.

In forest biotechnology, scientists can improve natural, native trees by following a series of steps that begin by selecting a tree with superior qualities. Examples of desirable qualities are disease resistance, drought tolerance, or resistance to climate change. A biologist isolates the desired genes from the superior tree’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and puts them into normal tree DNA. This gene transfer can take place either by crossbreeding the two types of trees or by putting the new genes into regular seeds by recombinant techniques. (Crossbreeding is the process of breeding two different types of individuals so the offspring contain traits from both parents.) After the first generation grows, the biologists again crossbreed the new type progeny with other superior progeny to produce a new generation of improved trees.

Forest biotechnology currently works in the following major areas: molecular details of wood formation; synthesis process of the fibers lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose; pathology and disease resistance; plant hormones; and in vitro growth of tree tissue. Forest biotechnology has also turned to finding ways of affecting climate change. Future biotechnology projects may develop the following innovations: improved biofuels from
cellulose-derived ethanol; trees that capture and store more carbon; trees that withstand wider temperature ranges; forests that produce more wood in smaller areas; trees that resist invasive plants and pests; and trees that remove contaminants from the soil.

All of the focus areas in forest biotechnology aim to achieve one or more of three main objectives:

1. studying and improving tree genomes
2. creation of new biofuels
3. preservation of heritage trees

Heritage trees are trees of particular importance to a community because of their age, size, location, history, or ecological significance. Many U.S. cities identify anywhere from a few to hundreds of heritage trees that would be considered a terrible loss if they were cut down or killed by disease.

Source of Information : Green Technology Conservation Protecting Our Plant Resources