Genetically Enhanced Wood Growth In Woody Plants

Michigan Technological University
posted on 01/03/2012

Wood fiber production is generally the goal of forest management operations for building products, veneer, wood pulp or bioenergy. Genetic improvement has been researched as an avenue to improve the productivity of forest operations and their efficiency at converting solar energy and soil components into wood fiber. Success in forest genetics has been achieved by incrementally making trees easier to process into a desired product, faster growing or more disease resistant.

Suggested Uses

Wood production for bioenergy

Increased fiber production for pulp and paper

Improved mechanical properties of wood grown for building products

Advantages

Increased fiber production in forest
plantations

Trees with a higher proportion of wood
formation

Potential to improve wood properties

Potential to reduce lignin for biofuel
applications

Innovation Details

Detailed Description

Several sequences of poplar genes have been identified that, with regulation, will increase the rate of wood formation and the properties of wood being formed. This can be achieved using transgenic or traditional breeding techniques. The identified gene sequences can be manipulated to increase the proportion of xylem or phloem produced relative to a control plant. The sequence works by activation of a novel uncharacterized gene that encodes a putative Lateral Organ Boundary Domain transcription factor

File Number: 0926.00

Other Information:

PCT/US2010/050371

IP Protection

License Online

This innovation currently is not available for online licensing. Please contact Michael Morley at Michigan Technological University for more information.

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