Li Shaofeng,SuXiaohua,Zhang Bingyu  Acta Botanica Sinica  2011.46(1)

【Abstract】

Foresttrees have rich germplasm resources whose genetic differences are so great. Genecloning and transformation which control significant characters of trees havewide applications in developing new excellent-quality tree varieties. However,many of the genes with potential application have not been discovered and effectiveisolated. In recent years, a large number of genes related to trees’significant characters have been identified and isolated with the establishmentof various forest cDNA and the use of large-scale random EST-sequencingtechnologies as well as the gradual improvements of cloning technology, andmore specifically, the completion of Populus trichocarpa’s genome sequencing isalso an inducer. Cloned of these genes have laid a solid foundation for thehigh yield cultivation of new varieties of forest trees by transgenic technology.This paper has made a review on the progress of forest trees gene cloning overthe last 20 years. In this paper, it has discussed some problems in genecloning and application, prospects for its follow-up development have also beenmentioned.

Thisarticle can be divided into three parts:

1. 1.      OverseasReview on Trees Gene Cloning.

Foreignresearches are mainly on the regulation of forest wood formation, developmentalmechanism of flowers, plant drought and salt tolerance as well as its resistanceto oxidative stress. It introduces the overseas’ researches from five aspects byusing a lot of charts and data, including materials-related genes,reproduction-related genes, pest-resistant genes and resistance genes.

1. 2.      DomesticReview on Trees Gene Cloning.

InChina, the forest trees transgene research begins in the late 1980s. It usuallytransform the crops or bacteria genes into forest trees genome by leaf diskassay and particle bombardment. Although the way of using gene for geneticimprovement starts late, it develops rapidly.

1. 3.      ResearchExpectations on Trees Gene Cloning and its Application.

Basedon the characteristic of forest trees and the research status, this paper haspointed out that in terms of tree cloning and its application in the future,the following aspects should be taken into considerations.

1)Selecting the update tissue-specific promoter or inducible promotor to controlthe expression of genes.

2)Establishing the gene mutant library and separating major gene by forwardgenetics.

3)Selecting new cloning methods.

4)Increasing the stress resistance by introducing transcription factors.

5)Establishing a multiple gene transformation system.

6)Improving the operation of ribozyme gene and gene transformation techniques.

7)Emphasis on the strategy of gene expression and prevent the gene silencing.

8)Studying on the gene regulatory networks.