Genetic Modification of Forest Tree Species

Biotechnology can be defined as "a set of tools that modify the physiology and genetics of trees to support breeding, breeding, and research" (Burdon and Libby, 2006). These tools include the use of genetic markers for tissue culture, genetic manipulation (genetic modification), and marker assisted breeding (Harry and Strauss 2010). Tissue culture is the process of growing cultivated plants under controlled conditions of small plant parts. The plants produced in this way will then grow after being transferred to the greenhouse.

Genetically modified organisms have been proposed to protect endangered species of plants. Many trees are threatened by invading plants and diseases such as North American Oriental grasshopper and Cheratocystis platani of Sycamore tree fungal disease. The solution proposed to increase the resilience of endangered species is to genetically modify individuals by transferring resistance genes. The papaya tree is an example of a species well preserved by genetically engineering. Until the GM papaya plants were given resistance from the pathogen, in the 20th century the Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV) destroyed the papaya tree in Hawaii.

Research on genetic modification of forest trees is almost limited to artificial forestry. Today, the forest area occupies about 25% of world timber demand. Forest area now accounts for less than 5% of global scale characteristics and genetic modifications including insect and virus resistance, herbicide tolerance and improved lignin content can be considered in the near future. Modification of lignin is a potentially important target for the production of paper pulp types. Wood including modified lignin requires less processing and irritating chemicals and is therefore environmentally friendly. It has also been pointed out that the overall effect of modified lignin should be carefully investigated as the lignin content is related to the resistance of insects to food intake.