| abstract |
PLANTS HAVING REDUCED LIGNIN OR LIGNIN OF ALTERED QUALITY ABSTRACT Plants of reduced lignin content or of altered lignin composition are produced by transformation of the plants with a recombinant DNA translating to mRNA which inhibits production of protein from the normal mRNA expressed by the endogenous gene for one of the enzymes critical to the biosynthesis pathway of lignin. The inserted DNA is normally used in antisense orientation with respect to the target gene but inserts, particularly incomplete sequences, oriented in sense direction will also down-regulate the target gene. One preferred target gene is that encoding cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and this gene has been isolated from tobacco, maize, alfalfa, rape and eucalyptus. The transformed plants find commercial application as animal fodder of improved digestibility and woody species of lower lignin which facilitate production of paper pulp. |