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Expression of genes of cellulose and lignin synthesis in Eucalyptus urophylla and its relation to some economic traits

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Abstract

Genes of cellulose and lignin synthesis are important for tree breeding because their activity greatly affects wood properties as well as general growth. The expression (transcript abundance) of genes of cellulose and lignin synthesis in tangential xylem scrapes at breast height sampled at the end of June (middle of active growing season) was related to wood properties in five fast-growing and six slow-growing families of Eucalyptus urophylla from a combined progeny test and seedling seed orchard grown for 10 years in northern Vietnam. Cellulose synthase A (CesA) genes encoding proteins active in the primary cell wall, EuCesA4 and EuCesA5, were more highly expressed than EuCesA1, EuCesA2 and EuCesA3, encoding genes active in the secondary cell wall. EuCesA4 expression was correlated with that of EuCesA5 (r = 0.49, P = 0.040) and EuCesA5 with EuCesA6 (r = 0.46, P = 0.040). EuCesA4 expression was significantly higher in the fast-growing group and was correlated with cellulose content (r = 0.51, P = 0.011). Over 2 kb of the EuCesA gene was sequenced in 24 trees extending from the 5′ untranslated region through six exons and six introns and revealed 83 polymorphisms and rapid decay of linkage disequilibrium over 500 bp. EuCesA4 activity in xylem is involved in the genetic control of cellulose content, and the gene may have potential for marker-aided selection.

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Acknowledgments

The progeny trial used in this study was established under the FAO’s Regional Project RAS/91/004 (FORTIP), supported by AusAID. The authors acknowledge the staff of the Research Centre for Forest Tree Improvement for their assistance in sample collection and phenotypic measurements. This study was supported within the SIDA/SAREC project ‘Uses of genetic diversity and biotechnological advances in forest tree improvement research’ funded by the Swedish International Development Agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology and Forest Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7080, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Tran Ho Quang, Henrik Hallingbäck, Niclas Gyllenstrand, Sara von Arnold & David Clapham

  2. Centre for Biotechnology in Forestry, Forest Science Institute of Vietnam, Dong Ngac, Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Tran Ho Quang

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  1. Tran Ho Quang
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  2. Henrik Hallingbäck
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Correspondence to Tran Ho Quang.

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Communicated by F. Canovas.

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Quang, T.H., Hallingbäck, H., Gyllenstrand, N. et al. Expression of genes of cellulose and lignin synthesis in Eucalyptus urophylla and its relation to some economic traits. Trees 26, 893–901 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0664-5

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