Genetic Modification of Forest Tree Species

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Biotechnology can be defined as a “collection of tools for modifying tree physiology and genetics to aid breeding, propagation and research” (Burdon and Libby 2006). These tools include the use of tissue culture, genetic engineering (genetic modification) and the use of genetic markers for marker assisted breeding (Harry and Strauss 2010).
Tissue culture is the process of growing plants in a cultured medium under controlled conditions from small plant parts. The plants produced in this manner are then transferred to the greenhouse and then grow. The advantages of tissue culture are:
• This technology produces exact copies of the organism that contains the desirable trait.
• Plants will reach maturity at a faster rate.
• Tissue culture allows for the growth of a plant without the use of seeds or pollination.
• Plants are grown under controlled and sterile conditions which reduce the risk of being exposed to pests, pathogens and diseases.
• Tissue culture allows for the clonal propagation of plant (production of multiple copies of the same genotype).
Marker assisted breeding (or marker aided selection) refers to the study of the trees’ genetic fingerprint (DNA) or more specifically the genetic variability of a species (variation in the DNA). Trees containing characteristics of interest, such as fast growth rate and disease resistance, can be selected using specific gene markers. Gene markers can be a single nucleotide insertion or deletion in the DNA that can be associated with the trait of interest. Using this information, tree breeders can predict the performance of trees and make early selections for turning over tree generations. They can also select the best parents to cross in order to produce good offspring.
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