Genetically modified tree

A tree whose genetic material has been deliberately altered using genetic engineering to introduce, remove, or change specific traits.

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Agrobacterium-mediated transformation: A method that uses Agrobacterium bacteria to transfer selected DNA into plant cells. This widely used method can deliver engineered genes into tree cells.
American chestnut blight: A destructive fungal disease that has nearly eliminated mature American chestnut trees from eastern North America. Engineered blight tolerance is being developed to support chestnut restoration.
ArborGen freeze-tolerant eucalyptus: A genetically engineered eucalyptus designed to tolerate colder conditions than conventional plantation varieties. It became a prominent commercial proposal for expanding eucalyptus plantations into colder regions.
Selective breeding: The deliberate reproduction of organisms with desired inherited traits. It changes tree populations through mating rather than direct genetic engineering.
Particle bombardment: A transformation method that propels DNA-coated microscopic particles into cells. It offers an alternative when bacterial transformation is ineffective for a tree species.
Bt poplar: A poplar engineered to produce an insecticidal protein from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. It illustrates engineering trees for resistance to insect pests.
American chestnut restoration: A conservation effort to re-establish the American chestnut, a once-dominant eastern North American tree. Its research includes engineered trees intended to withstand chestnut blight.
Marker-assisted selection: A breeding method that uses DNA markers linked to traits to select individuals. It can accelerate tree breeding without directly modifying DNA.
CRISPR gene editing: A genome-editing method that uses guide molecules and a nuclease to make targeted DNA changes. It can alter tree genes without necessarily adding DNA from another species.
Lignin modification: The alteration of lignin content or composition in plant cell walls. Changing lignin can make wood easier to process into pulp or biofuel.