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- Title
Impact of Reduced Lignin on Plant Fitness.
- Authors
Pedersen, J. F.; Vogel, K. P.; Funnell, D. L.
- Abstract
Lignin content of crop plants has been reduced by traditional plant breeding, natural and induced mutations, and insertion of transgenes. The effects of these genes and associated lower lignin content have been examined in terms of agricultural fitness or with regard to economically harvestable yields of useful plant products, or, in the case of some perennial species, survivability over multiple years. In general, crop yields are depressed by significant reductions in lignin content. Other negative effects observed in plants with lowered liginin contents include lodging and reduction of long-term survival of some perennial species. However, the interactions of genes involved in lignin metabolism with genetic background and the environment in which the lowlignin crop is cultivated are substantial. Examples are provided that demonstrate that lignin can be reduced in specific lines or populations without damaging fitness. It is concluded that it will be essential to incorporate liginin reducing genes into numerous genetic backgrounds and combinations, and evaluate the resulting lines in diverse environments, to discover optimal combinations and to obtain a true measure of value and fitness in agricultural systems.
- Subjects
LIGNINS; PLANT breeding; PLANT growth; PLANT mutation; AGRICULTURE; CROPS
- Publication
Crop Science, 2005, Vol 45, Issue 3, p812
- ISSN
0011-183X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2135/cropsci2004.0155