Premium
Genetic engineering of woody plants: current and future targets in a stressful environment
Author(s) -
Osakabe Yuriko,
Kajita Shinya,
Osakabe Keishi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2011.01451.x
Subject(s) - abiotic stress , abiotic component , biomass (ecology) , woody plant , biology , environmental stress , adaptation (eye) , productivity , limiting , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , neuroscience , engineering , gene , genetics , mechanical engineering , macroeconomics , economics
Abiotic stress is a major factor in limiting plant growth and productivity. Environmental degradation, such as drought and salinity stresses, will become more severe and widespread in the world. To overcome severe environmental stress, plant biotechnologies, such as genetic engineering in woody plants, need to be implemented. The adaptation of plants to environmental stress is controlled by cascades of molecular networks including cross‐talk with other stress signaling mechanisms. The present review focuses on recent studies concerning genetic engineering in woody plants for the improvement of the abiotic stress responses. Furthermore, it highlights the recent advances in the understanding of molecular responses to stress. The review also summarizes the basis of a molecular mechanism for cell wall biosynthesis and the plant hormone responses to regulate tree growth and biomass in woody plants. This would facilitate better understanding of the control programs of biomass production under stressful conditions.