Genetic engineering in poplars
More release trials are conducted with the poplar than with any other tree worldwide. Since 2002 genetically modified insect-resistant Bt poplars for large-scale reafforestation were used in China. In Europe too, the fast-growing poplar is on the verge of a renaissance. It provides renewable raw materials for the paper industry and is becoming increasingly important as a climate-friendly, low-cost fuel. This means that poplar breeding is also becoming attractive again. Genetic engineering could play an important role here.
Sience live
Background
- Cultivation of Bt poplars in China. GMO Safety spoke to Dietrich Ewald: "Seeing once is better than studying a thousand times." (05/2005)
- An abundance of poplars. Deliberate release of genetically modified trees
Preventing the spread
Because of their long lifespan, trees can pass on their genetic information to progeny over many generations and can even exchange genetic information across species boundaries. This means that outcrossing could lead to transgenic traits spreading to natural tree populations. In order to assess the risk of outcrossing in the field, two biosafety research projects are developing methods to prevent the spread of genetically modified poplars.
Research info:
- SiFo project (2008-2011): Transgenic aspens: Testing the reliability of male sterility systems, vTI Großhansdorf
- SiFo project (2008-2011): Preventing the spread of genetically modified poplars through transgene-free pollen
Horizontal gene transfer
Transgenic poplars are produced with the help of the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The bacterium serves as a vehicle for inserting the desired genetic information into the plant cell. A current biosafety project is investigating whether gene transfer could occur between agrobacteria and other bacteria living in the plant tissue.
Research info
Background
Phytoremediation
Trees can take up heavy metals, detoxify them and deposit them in their leaves. Glutathione plays a central role in this process. Genetically modified poplars with an increased glutathione concentration are to be used to remediate soils contaminated with heavy metals.
Science live
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Field trial. Poplars designed to detoxify the soil are tested on copper-contaminated soils (05/2003)
Stability
In the case of long-lived trees, it is particularly important that the genetically engineered traits remain stable over a long period of time. This was tested as part of the first release trial in Germany with the help of a gene construct that causes stunted growth and a lighter leaf colour.
Research info
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