Genetic Engineering of Poplar: Current Achievements and Future Goals

Genetically modified trees with improved abiotic stress resistance - recent accomplishments. A review.

“…The adaptation mechanisms developed by various species allowing them to withstand unfavorable conditions might be successfully transferred to trees via a transgenic approach. The development of stress-resistant trees with the aid of genetic engineering might be accomplished in a relatively short period compared to conventional breeding [Yadav et al 2017, Chang et al 2018. All of the above-mentioned studies corroborate that the genetic transformation of poplar trees is a valuable approach for abiotic stress resistance improvement and can serve as an excellent tool for sustaining biomass production under changing environmental conditions.…”

“…A vast body of literature shows a variety of both exogenous and endogenous genes that have been overexpressed in different plant species in order to improve their performance under unfavorable environmental conditions [Bakhsh and Hussain 2015, Nguyen et al 2018, Anwar and Kim 2020]. Poplars became model organisms among forest trees due to their several practical advantages involving small genome, ease of genetic transformation and vegetative propagation as well as relatively fast growth rate [Yadav et al 2017]. Therefore here we present a review of the most recent accomplishments aiming at the enhancement of abiotic stress resistance of Populus species.…”