In North Carolina, forestry contributes over $35 billion to the local economy and supports approximately 140,000 jobs. They are pillars of our ecosystems and the bioeconomy. Climate Impact and Future Stepsįinally, the efficiencies found in fiber production could reduce greenhouse gases associated with pulp production by up to 20% if reduced lignin and increased C/L and S/G ratios are achieved in trees at industrial scale.įorest trees represent the largest biogenic carbon sink on earth and are paramount in efforts to curb climate change. This could help mills increase the production of sustainable fibers by up to 40%. The study also included sophisticated pulp production mill models that suggest reduced lignin content in trees could boost pulp yield and reduce so-called black liquor, the primary byproduct of pulping. Single-gene edits failed to reduce lignin content much at all, showing that using CRISPR to make multigene changes could confer advantages in fiber production. Interestingly, the researchers say, more significant lignin reductions were shown in trees with four to six gene edits, although trees with three gene edits showed lignin reduction of up to 32%. Multi-gene Edits for Improved Fiber Production After six months in an NC State greenhouse, an examination of those trees showed reduced lignin content of up to 50% in some varieties, as well as a 228% increase in the C-L ratio in others. Credit: Photo courtesy of Chenmin Yang, NC State University Producing New Poplar Tree Varietiesįrom these seven strategies, the researchers used CRISPR gene editing to produce 174 lines of poplar trees. “CRISPR systems provide the flexibility to edit more than just single genes or gene families, allowing for greater improvement to wood properties.”ĬRISPR-modified wood shows red coloration (l) with wild-type poplar wood (r). Klaenhammer Distinguished Professor of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at NC State and co-corresponding author of the paper. “We’re using CRISPR to build a more sustainable forest,” said Barrangou, the Todd R. These combined chemical characteristics represent a fiber production sweet spot, Barrangou and Wang say. Led by NC State CRISPR pioneer Rodolphe Barrangou and tree geneticist Jack Wang, a team of researchers used predictive modeling to set goals of lowering lignin levels, increasing the carbohydrate-to-lignin (C/L) ratio, and increasing the ratio of two important lignin building blocks – syringyl to guaiacyl (S/G) – in poplar trees. The findings hold promise to make fiber production for everything from paper to diapers greener, cheaper, and more efficient. The research, which offers potential for more efficient, eco-friendly fiber production, was published in the journal Science. Researchers at North Carolina State University (NC State) have successfully applied CRISPR gene-editing technology to breed poplar trees with reduced levels of lignin, a significant barrier to the sustainable production of wood fibers. They’ve launched a startup, TreeCo, to continue this innovative work. Their work could revolutionize the pulp and paper industry while reducing its carbon footprint. Using CRISPR technology, researchers at North Carolina State University have bred poplar trees with reduced lignin content, leading to a more efficient, sustainable fiber production.
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