Functional Genomics of Wood Quality and Properties

Abstract

Genomics promises to enrich the investigations of biology and biochemistry. Current advancements in genomics have major implications for genetic improvement in animals, plants, and microorganisms, and for our understanding of cell growth, development, differentiation, and communication. Significant progress has been made in the understanding of plant genomics in recent years, and the area continues to progress rapidly. Functional genomics offers enormous potential to tree improvement and the understanding of gene expression in this area of science worldwide. In this review we focus on functional genomics of wood quality and properties in trees, mainly based on progresses made in genomics study of Pinus and Populus. The aims of this review are to summarize the current status of functional genomics including: (1) Gene discovery; (2) EST and genomic sequencing; (3) From EST to functional genomics; (4) Approaches to functional analysis; (5) Engineering lignin biosynthesis; (6) Modification of cell wall biogenesis; and (7) Molecular modelling. Functional genomics has been greatly invested worldwide and will be important in identifying candidate genes whose function is critical to all aspects of plant growth, development, differentiation, and defense. Forest biotechnology industry will significantly benefit from the advent of functional genomics of wood quality and properties.

Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing Induced by Short Interfering RNAs in Cultured Transgenic Plant Cells

“…Therefore, our data established siRNA-mediated gene silencing as a reliable and valuable approach for effective gene silencing. With the progresses made from genomics research (18., 21., 68.), siRNA-mediated gene silencing would be a powerful tool for gene function and plant functional genomics.…”

Analysis of the Surfaces of Wood Tissues and Pulp Fibers Using Carbohydrate-Binding Modules Specific for Crystalline Cellulose and Mannan

“…Understanding the biosynthesis, composition, ultrastructure, properties, and microbial decay of plant cell walls is one of the major challenges for future engineering of quality parameters of industrial crop plants for improved utility of the raw material. − At the fundamental research level, specific markers for carbohydrates are needed to improve the interpretation of data obtained by reverse genetic studies of cell wall synthesis and modification. , In practical applications, the determination of the carbohydrate composition on pulp fiber surfaces can help to understand the relationships between fiber processing conditions versus fiber performance. , Spatial analyses combined with high-resolution imaging, often aided by the use of specific antibodies, have been the methods of choice to identify different domains of carbohydrates and proteins within cell walls. − Immunolocalization studies by light, confocal, and electron microscopy require well-characterized and highly specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. While antibodies are generally easy to generate against protein antigens, most carbohydrates must be conjugated to antigenic carrier proteins for efficient immunization .…”

“…Understanding the biosynthesis, composition, ultrastructure, properties, and microbial decay of plant cell walls is one of the major challenges for future engineering of quality parameters of industrial crop plants for improved utility of the raw material. [1][2][3] At the fundamental research level, specific markers for carbohydrates are needed to improve the interpretation of data obtained by reverse genetic studies of cell wall synthesis and modification. 4,5 In practical applications, the determination of the carbohydrate composition on pulp fiber surfaces can help to understand the relationships between fiber processing conditions versus fiber performance.…”