ABSTRACT
Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) catalyzes the last step in the biosynthesis of the lignin precursors, the monolignols. We have down-regulated CAD in transgenic poplar (Populus tremula X Populus alba) by both antisense and co-suppression strategies. Several antisense and sense CAD transgenic poplars had an approximately 70% reduced CAD activity that was associated with a red coloration of the xylem tissue. Neither the lignin amount nor the lignin monomeric composition (syringyl/guaiacyl) were significantly modified. However, phloroglucinol-HCl staining was different in the down-regulated CAD plants, suggesting changes in the number of aldehyde units in the lignin. Furthermore, the reactivity of the cell wall toward alkali treatment was altered: a lower amount of lignin was found in the insoluble, saponified residue and more lignin could be precipitated from the soluble alkali fraction. Moreover, large amounts of phenolic compounds, vanillin and especially syringaldehyde, were detected in the soluble alkali fraction of the CAD down-regulated poplars. Alkaline pulping experiments on 3-month-old trees showed a reduction of the kappa number without affecting the degree of cellulose degradation. These results indicate that reducing the CAD activity in trees might be a valuable strategy to optimize certain processes of the wood industry, especially those of the pulp and paper industry.
ABSTRACT
The hypothesis that auxin (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA(3)) control the formation of lignin is confirmed for the primary phloem fibers and for the secondary xylem in the stem of Coleus blumel Benth. Indoleacetic acid alone, or a combination of high IAA/low GA(3) (w/w), induced short phloem fibers with thick secondary walls, that contained lignin rich in syringyl units (high ratio of syringyl/guaiacyl). On the other hand, a combination of high GA(3)/low IAA (w/w), which promoted the differentiation of long phloem fibers with thin walls, decreased the relative content of the syringyl units (low syringyl/guaiacyl ratio). In the secondary xylem, these hormonal treatments yielded only slight changes in the noncondensed monomeric guaiacyl units, confirming the relative stability of the guaiacyl lignification pattern in this tissue. In the xylem, indoleacetic acid alone, or a combination of high IAA/low GA(3) induced lignin poor in syringyl units (low syringyl/guaiacyl ratio). A combination of high GA(3)/low IAA promoted a relatively slight increase in syringyl yield, indicating greater responsiveness of the syringyl lignification pattern to growth regulators. The possible functional and technological significance of our results is discussed.
