With excellent knowledge of the eucalyptus genome, Brazil is poised to continue its work toward developing trees with superior characteristics-offering the pulp and paper sector significant gains in terms of productivity and wood quality.

The ideal eucalyptus tree has a balanced lignin content that is easily removable during the pulping process. Its photosynthetic capacity would be superior with accelerated growth rates. The same tree would also serve as a source of biomass for producing energy.

According to 2007 information from the Brazilian Pulp and Paper Association, possesses 1.7 million hectares of planted area for industrial purposes and is growing at an accelerated rate, leverage by the increase in pulp demand from China and India.

Transgenic research with eucalyptus is part of the second-generation work being done with genetically modified plants. The first generation included plants improved primarily for agricultural purposes. Genetic transformation research is first seeking to improve wood quality, which basically must satisfy industry need pertaining to pulp production. Following this line, research considers two paths. The first is to improve eucalyptus pulp yield though genes that modify proteins, which in turn alter lignin content. The second path is to maintain the same quantity of lignin, seeking to increase the proportion of a specific type of lignin extracted more easily in the pulping process.

Source : Written by Rodrigo Moraes, TAPPI Journal Techlink, Paper 360 degree, December 2008