Editing Metabolism, Sex, and Microbiome: How Can We Help Poplar Resist Pathogens?

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2024-01, Vol.25 (2), p.1308
• Main Authors: Kovalev, Maxim A, Gladysh, Natalya S, Bogdanova, Alina S, Bolsheva, Nadezhda L, Popchenko, Mikhail I, Kudryavtseva, Anna V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acids; Climate change; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Disease; DNA binding proteins; Environmental impact; Gene Editing; Genetic aspects; Genetic engineering; Genetic transcription; Genetically modified organisms; Genome editing; Genomes; Genomics; Genotype; Green economy; Humans; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Metabolites; Methyl salicylate; Pathogenic microorganisms; Pathogens; Phenotype; Physiological aspects; plant immunity; plant microbiome; plant pathogens; plant sex; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Populus; Populus - genetics; Populus - metabolism; Wood
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021308

Poplar ( ) is a genus of woody plants of great economic value. Due to the growing economic importance of poplar, there is a need to ensure its stable growth by increasing its resistance to pathogens. Genetic engineering can create organisms with improved traits faster than traditional methods, and with the development of CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing systems, scientists have a new highly effective tool for creating valuable genotypes. In this review, we summarize the latest research data on poplar diseases, the biology of their pathogens and how these plants resist pathogens. In the final section, we propose to plant male or mixed poplar populations; consider the genes of the MLO group, transcription factors of the WRKY and MYB families and defensive proteins BbChit1, LJAMP2, MsrA2 and PtDef as the most promising targets for genetic engineering; and also pay attention to the possibility of microbiome engineering.