Plant biomass increase: Recent advances in genetic engineering

Abstract

Plant biomass enhancement using transgenesis in model as well as in crop plants both under optimal and stress controlled (greenhouse or growth chamber) and field conditions is observed. It was documented that genetic engineering approaches allow reaching up to two-fold increase of biomass in optimal conditions. Both transgenic and initial plants reduce biomass production under stress. It was demonstrated that it can be up to 2-fold increase in productivity of transgenic plant versus untransformed one in stress. Some heterologous gene expression features influencing plant biomass production are discussed. © Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 2013.