Forest Biotechnology projects

FOREST BIOTECHNOLOGY PROJECTS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

In Eastern Africa the areas of forests have decreased significantly, therefore for ordinary people, who use timber as a source of energy and for other purposes, it became too expensive. Most of the researches show that more forests are destroyed (cut out) than reforested. The outcomes of the above mentioned facts are the following ones: drought, decreased harvest, rapid erosion of the soil, global warming, increase of the areas of the deserts. For solving the above mentioned problems tree biotechnology project was created. During the project genetically better clones of eucalypt from Mondi forests, located in the southern Africa, were transferred into eastern Africa. The farmers are provided with improved seedlings and clones of the eucalypt, which grow faster, are resistant against to certain diseases and parasites, are characterised by fibre and timber of better quality, are resistant against droughts and can grow in the places, where the amounts of rainfall are small, are more efficient due to more homogenous maturity. Several popular species of eucalypt, which are distributed implementing this project, are: E. grandis, E. camaldulensis, E. tereticornis and E. urophyllar.

The objectives of the project are to create testing program both for the imported and for the locally created gene pool, to create such reproduction possibilities that it would be possible to make the production from more than three millions of clones and seedlings every year, to develop regional arboreta for efficient distribution of the sprouts, to create close relations with the partners for constant creation of as good as possible program for biotechnology production and distribution into the regions.

Achievements of the project up to no are the following ones: increased accessibility possibility of large amounts of improved seedlings without diseases, increased income of the disadvantaged farmers, determining better social and economical status, prepared tree trade and distribution workers of the forestry field, millions of trees planted in the region, reforesting the forests, the load of the forests was decreased, which occurred due to the increased consumption of the trees, the farmers were trained for supervision of the forest farms, better economical employment of droughty or half-droughty useless up to now local regions, easier access to firewood resources, therefore, women and children have more time to be engaged in other productive tasks.

In the future it is expected to apply the technology for other disadvantaged African countries, to strengthen the investments of the private sector hen distributing the created trees.

The tree biotechnology project was created in 1997 by Forest Department of Forest Health Management Centre, seeking to apply biotechnology methods for the growth of the trees and greening. During this project attempts were made to improve the living conditions of people who live in Africa by facilitating the buying and accessibility of natural resources. The object of the project is to stop the decrease of forest areas in Kenya, applying ratified biotechnology methods, as well as to distribute improved variations and clones of the sprouts at a low price, at the same time promoting greening of the forests.

The following works of the project were already performed: macro-reproduction of the best eucalypt hybrid clones was started in 2001. Optimisation of the macro-reproduction of the selected local tree subspecies, mostly Prunus Africana and Warbugia ugandensis, was started in 2004. Eldoret Clonal Tree Center as opened in March 2004, it was dedicated for the spread of the production among the farmers of the Western Kenya regions.

Duration of the project 2004 - 2008. The main objective of the project is to develop and to apply biotechnology methods as part of the investigation of forest genetics and tree reproduction. Different tree biotechnology investigation fields are investigated: vegetative reproduction and application of cryopreservation methods, genetic modification and application of the markers. The significance of vegetative reproduction and cryopreservation method is highlighted, since practical application of these fields is very important in tree reproduction programs and forestry. Genetic modification is applied a method of scientific investigations, knowledge is accumulated concerning the possible benefit of genetic modification and risk in application thereof in the future in the forestry field. Marker methods are used together with other fields of investigation, especially when investigating the identity of vegetative reproduction and genetic accuracy of cryopreserved trees. Transgene birches are created.

Results: maintenance applying cryopreservation is a modern method, applied maintaining genetic resources of the forest. Vitrification, just like traditional cryopreservation, is received immersing the samples into liquid nitrogen – 196 °C. After vitrification of the plant there were no genetic alterations within the plants comparing with their donor plants, therefore, vitrification of the plants is cryopreservation method of the same efficiency as the traditional cryopreservation.

Maintenance of genetic identity of clones is very important in any investigations, especially those, which are performed with long-living species of trees. Cloning at the level of tissue culture did not affect the genome of silver birch; therefore, it can be applied in any experiments and investigations.

Transgene silver birch lines were created for amending the biosynthesis of lignin. Those lines have COMT gene, transferred from Populus tremuloides, and controlled by constructive promoter CaMV 35S or UbB1. Other similar tree biotechnology experiments were also performed.

Lignin scientific work was carried out in cooperation with prof. Häggman (University of Oulu), Doc. Niemi (University of Helsinki), prof. Chiang (NCSU, USA) and prof. Tsai (MTU, USA). Head of the project: D. Sc., Doc., Aronen, Tuija, The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Punkaharju Research Unit, Finland. Other researchers: Ryynänen, Leena, Pu; Tiimonen, Heidi.

Duration of the project: 1997 – 2003. The main objective of the project is to develop and to apply biotechnology methods if forestry genetics and tree reproduction works. During the project Scots pine as reproduced applying vegetation method, improvement of somatic embryogenesis was performed and experiments of affecting somatic embryos and cuttings (explants) with mycorrhizal fungi. After cryopreservation effective plant regeneration was received of Scots pine, silver birch and aspen. Transformation investigations: development of gene transmittance methods and application thereof when studying the gene functioning of Finnish forest trees. Transgene Scots pines were received transforming the pollen. The applied method most probably would also be suitable for Norwegian spruce. In large part of the pollen (12 - 84 %) transformed reporter gene as identified, but only a small part of the offsprings ere transgene plants.

Cooperation was carried out with other projects implemented by the Universities of Oulu, Kuopio, Joensuu, Turku and Helsinki, Michigan Technology University (prof. V. Chiang), Institute of Biotechnology (Zurich, Switzerland; dr. P. Kallio), ES/ Cost (improvement of the quality of plant production from tissue cultures).

Head of the project: doc. Aronen, Tuija. Other scientists, who have contributed to the project: Hassinen, Minna (2002), Häggman, Hely (2001-02), Jokipii, Soile (2001-02), Kontunen-Soppela, Sari (2001-03), Luomala, Eeva-Maria (2002), Ryynänen, Leena, PU (2001-03), Tiimonen, Heidi, PU (2001-03), Timonen, Ulla (2002).

Place of implementation of the project: University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Duration of the project: 2005 – 2006. During this project it was attempted to reveal the possibilities of creation of Danish forests, parks and other green zones (greenness), applying biotechnology methods. At the same time a possibility was analysed to apply biotechnology also in scientific experiments, related to trees.

The following fields were to be investigated during the project: biotechnology methods, which could improve the growth of the trees (greenness) and the trees (greenness) itself, as well as the search for possible partners, engaged in the above mentioned sphere, search of financing possibilities.

The project was started in 1962; the envisaged end of the project is 2025. The project is carried out in the University of Copenhagen, Department of Genetic Resources of the Forest, Danish Tree Improvement Station, Denmark.

During the project survivability, productivity and quality of modifications of genetically improved Sitka spruce are developed and improved.

Members of the project: Hubert Wellendorf and Viggo Jensen.

Investigation theme: implementation of the innovations. Objective of the project: to determine the applicability of the biotechnology, which would mostly strengthen the competitiveness of USA paper industry at global level, decreasing the pollution of the environment.

During this project it was sought to explore in a detailed way the potential benefit of the biotechnology for the paper industry. It as established during this project that having applied biotechnology, the timber used in paper industry would become cheaper.

Concerning additional information address prof. Gary F. Peter (University of Florida), David E. White (IPST Georgia Technical College), David Newman (University of Georgia), Roderick Duncan (Georgia Technical College). The project was started in 2001, envisaged duration – 3 years.

Forest Product Biotechnology Laboratory, dr. Kyung-Hwan Han, Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, USA.

The objectives of the project are the following ones: to develop biotechnology methods, allow receiving timber of improved quality, to identify genes, characteristic to the transitional zone of tree sapwood and core as well as specific gene promoters of the timber, to observe gene expression in the tree stem cells, using collections of DNA, to create transgene trees, which produce more flavonoids than usual, for strengthening the resistance of trees against rotting, to analyse the chemical composition of such trees resistant against rotting, to formulate DNA based detection system for identification of initial fungal rotting in timber products.

Head of the project: Fredrik Sterky Per Unneberg, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). The research program as started in 1997, more than 100 000 sequences of DNA were collected, among which there were approximately 25 000 tree genes, received from the model tree Populus. The expression of the above mentioned genes was investigated. A public database PopulusDB was created. Moreover, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) investigations were also started with the genes of the above mentioned trees.

During the project the blossoming process was investigated in trees of Populus genus (aspens, poplars and etc.). The purpose of the work is to find out significant differences and similarities in the factors, which control the blossoming of annual and perennial plants. The results of this project will be applied in practise, because trees of Populus genus are significant economically and ecologically. The results of the project will help controlling the production of seeds and fruit accelerate the reproduction programs, increase the amounts of timber biomass.

The results of the project can be seen on the Populus flora genome webpage: http://www.floral-genome.org/ and Populus genome webpage: http://- bahama.jgipsf.org/prod/bin/populus/home.populus.cgi.

Head: Dawn S. Lube (Mississippi State University). Other scientists: M. Cetin Yuceer, Grier P. Page, Amy M. Brunner, John E. Carlson and Claude W. dePaphillis. It was also cooperated with Ove Nilsson, Hong Ma, David B. Alison, Loida J. Escote and David G. Oppenheimer. International Molecular Forest Technology Laboratory of Forestry Department of Mississippi State University.

The main implementator: Chung-Jui Tsai, other implementators: Scott Hardini, Shuanglian Zhang, Mark F. Davis. It was cooperated with Huann-Sheng, Rick Lindroth and Tom Whitham. Biotech Research Centre of Michigan Technological University, USA.

The objective of the project was functional description of the ways of controlling the accumulation of phenolic glycosides (PG) originating from salicylate, this description is important when trying to perceive the homestasis of phenolic glycosides and the significance thereof for the growth and application of ligneous plants. Phenolic glycosides affect the production of biomass and bio-fuel in the same way as carbon isolation affects rapidly growing species of the plants, as Salicaceae (poplar, willow) and Betulaceae (birch). Phenolic glycosides together with phenylpropanoids compose condensed tanines and lignins, which comprise 20 – 60 % of dry mass of the leaves and are numerous within the tissues of the stem and the roots.

During the investigation aspen transgene knockout lines were used, for the investigation of which gene influence upon homeostasis of phenolic glycosides was used.

Using the restriction of the amount of nitrogen methyl jasmonate attempts were made to disrupt the homeostasis of phenolic glycosides both in hybrids and in transgene modifications of aspen. Further the gene function in the above mentioned trees is checked and PG growth interactions are evaluated.

Duration of the project: 1999 – 2000. Head of the project and the main implementator: Lynn Wright, Ron Dinus, Washington, USA. The purpose of the project is to evaluate the possibilities and restrictions, modifying the ligneous plants with the help of biotechnology, which would be used as a source of bio-energy. To provide the recommendations concerning the best methods of modification.

Duration of the project: 1998 – 2003, head of the project: Gerald Tuskan, the main implementator of the project: Rick Hall. Organization implementing the project: Pjova State University, Department of forestry, entomology and plant pathology.

The objective of the project is to develop the production of new clones of the eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) for commercial energy production purposes and to support the investigations of the resistance of eastern cottonwood against pests as well as expression of better quality of the hybrids. Having developed genetic resistance against the pests larger increment would be received and less pesticide would be used.

Head of the project: Zander Myburg; supervisors of the project in North Carolina State University: Ross Whetten, Ron Sederoff; other members of the committee: Trudy Mackau, Michael Purugganan; associates of the project: Rod Griffin. North Carolina State University, USA.

The crossing was performed between E. grandis, as a well-adapting species, and E. globulus, as high timber quality species.

Head of the project: dr. Gavin Moran, Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research. Duration of the project: 2001 – 2003.

Objective of the project is to improve reproduction programs of wattle and eucalyptus, applying also molecular marker technologies. With the help of molecular markers the relationships among the trees was determined (dendrograms are composed).

Duration of the project: 2000 – 2001. Head of the project: Häggman, Hely; other implementators of the project: Timonen, Heidi. Finnish Forestry Research Institute, Punkaharju research station, Finland.