Michigan Technological University

Vincent Lee C Chiang

Laigeng Li

Chung-Jui Tsai

Wen-Jing Hu

The present invention relates to a method of concurrently introducing multiple genes into plants and trees is provided. The method includes simultaneous transformation of plants with multiple genes from the phenylpropanoid pathways including 4CL, CAld5H, AldOMT, SAD and CAD genes and combinations thereof to produce various lines of transgenic plants displaying altered agronomic traits. The agronomic traits of the plants are regulated by the orientation of the specific genes and the selected gene combinations, which are incorporated into the plant genome.

Methods for simultaneous control of lignin content and composition, and cellulose content in plants

The present invention relates to a novel DNA sequence, which encodes a previously unidentified lignin biosynthetic pathway enzyme, sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD) that regulates the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants. Also provided are methods for incorporating this novel SAD gene sequence or substantially similar sequences into a plant genome for genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants.

Genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants

The invention pertains to the genetically down regulating a lignin pathway p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase (CCL) in trees.

Genetic engineering of plants through manipulation of lignin biosynthesis

The present invention provides a Populus 4-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase gene promoter that directs expression in the xylem of plants. The promoter is used in methods designed to alter lignin content, lignin structure, cellulose content and combinations thereof. The methods comprise operably linking said promoter to heterologous nucleic acid molecules.

4-coumarate co-enzyme a ligase promoter

The invention pertains to methods of altering growth, lignin content, coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol units in the lignin structure, disease resistance and cellulose content in plants by transformation with a lignin pathway p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase (4CL) nucleic acid.

Growing community of inventors

Hancock, MI, United States of America

Vincent Lee C Chiang