Plants with Modified Lignin Decompose at Same Rate as Wild Types

When field trials of transgenic poplars were initiated, there have been concerns that the extent of decomposition between field-grown wild-type and lignin-modified transgenic poplar wood may be different. Lignin is a biopolymer found in cell walls of plants and an important component of wood. Some argue that a lignin modified poplar wood may decompose faster and cause an increase in carbon dioxide emission to the atmosphere.

Results from an 18-month study of scientists in Europe indicate that this is not likely. David Hopkins and colleagues demonstrated that the variation in decomposition rate between replicates of each genotype was greater than the variation between genotypes. The researchers suggest that “the changing environmental conditions during growth in the field have a greater influence on wood decomposition than the genetic modifications to lignin in these genotypes”. The same observation was reported by the group on comparisons of decomposition between lignin-modified and un-modified tobacco plants.

The report can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt0207-168.