2006-07 - Kerala Forest Research Institute

Annual report 2006-07Kerala Forest Research InstituteBiotechnological approaches for improvementof plant species with specialreference to pulp and paperInvestigator(s): Bhat, K.M., Muralidharan, E.M.,Pandalai, R.C., Thulasidas, P.K.Objectives• Region-wise sample collection and inventorisationof Leucaena leucocephala andOchlandra travancorica• Screening of the samples for chemicalparameters, viz., lignin, cellulose andhemi-cellulose content• Screening of the selected samples fromobjective 2 above for physical parametersviz. internodal length (in case of O.travancorica) and fiber characteristics (incase of L. leucocephala and O. travancorica)• Screening of the selected samples fromObjective 2 above for molecular biologicalparameters, viz., DNA fingerprinting• Collation of the data generated for objectives2 to 4 above and identification ofthe elite germplasm by correlating physical,chemical and molecular biologyrelated parameters with lignin, cellulose,hemi-cellulose and silica content• Region-wise development of repositories,documentation, registration andobtaining of the IC numbers for theselected elite germplasm for IPR protection• Development of in vitro methodologiesfor large scale multiplication of theselected elite germplasm• Isolation and characterization of ligninbiosynthetic pathway genes: cinnamylalcohol dehydrogenase (CA), 4-coumarate-CoA-ligase(4CL), coniferylaldehyde-5-hydroxylase (Cald5H), caffeoyl-3-O-methy-ltransferase(CCo....................................................................................................................................................................................AOMT), O-methyltra-nsferase (OMT),cinnamoyl-CoA-reductase (CCR) andconiferin-b-glucosidase (CBG)• Isolation of a xylem specific promoter• Cloning of the genes, isolated as in Objective8 above, in transformation vectorsund the control of an appropriate genepromoter• Development of transformation protocolsfor Leucaena leucocephala• Single event transformations of Leucaenaleucocephala with genes isolated in Objective8 above.• Transfer of transgenic plants to containmentfacilities and analysis for expressionof genes, lignin content / composition,cellulose content and pulp characteristicsDate of Commencement : 2004 SeptemberDate of Completion : 2006 AugustBudget: Rs. 73.90 lakhsSponsoring Agency : CSIR-(NMITLI)Project,Govt. of India.A total of 373 (including 136 collected byCIMAP) accessions of Ochlandra were madefrom 20 major reed growing areas of Kerala,Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Passport dataand descriptors prepared for Ochlandra weredeposited in NBRI. Soil samples from 19Ochlandra locations were sent to NBRI. Digitalphotos of 159 accessions of Ochlandra from12 locations were also sent to NBRI. Samplesof 25 trees of Leucaena were collected fromTamil Nadu and Kerala; wood samples weresupplied to FRI and passport data to NBRI.All 373 accessions, including duplicates, wereplanted and maintained in the Field GermplasmCollection at the Field Research Centreof KFRI at Velupadam, Palapilly. 250accessions (67%) are surviving in the field. Atotal of 11 accessions were lost due to flowering.50