Plant growth, biomass partitioning and soil carbon formation in response to altered lignin biosynthesis in Populus tremuloides

Jessica E. Hancock; Wendy M. Loya; Christian P. Giardina; Laigeng Li; Vincent L. Chiang; Kurt S. Pregitzer

Treesearch

Plant growth, biomass partitioning and soil carbon formation in response to altered lignin biosynthesis in Populus tremuloides

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Jessica E. Hancock, Wendy M. Loya, Christian P. Giardina, Laigeng Li, Vincent L. Chiang, Kurt S. Pregitzer

Year:

2007

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

New Phytologist. 173: 732-742.

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Abstract

We conducted a glasshouse mesocosm study that combined ¹³C isotope techniques with wild-type and transgenic aspen (Populus tremuloides) in order to examine how altered lignin biosynthesis affects plant production and soil carbon formation. Our transgenic aspen lines expressed low stem lignin concentration but normal cellulose concentration, low lignin stem concentration with high cellulose concentration or an increased stem syringyl to guaiacyl lignin ratio.

Keywords

carbon cycling, leaf area, lignin, photosynthesis, plant production, Populus, tissue quality, transgenic aspen

Citation

Hancock, Jessica E.; Loya, Wendy M.; Giardina, Christian P.; Li, Laigeng; Chiang, Vincent L.; Pregitzer, Kurt S. 2007. Plant growth, biomass partitioning and soil carbon formation in response to altered lignin biosynthesis in Populus tremuloides. New Phytologist. 173: 732-742.