Preliminary review of biotechnology in forestry, including genetic modification
List of figures
Figure 1.1 Proportion of biotechnology activities, by major categories, indicated in the public domain (from Chaix and Monteuuis, Appendix 2.1) 5
Figure 1.2. Forest genetic modification activities worldwide 10
Figure 1.3. Field test applications for GM forest trees in the United States 10
Figure 2.1.1A. Distribution of reported forest biotechnology activities (excluding genetic modification) by world region 22
Figure 2.1.1B. Distribution of reported forest biotechnology activities (percent of activities in the data set, excluding genetic modification) by country (for the 15 countries most represented, making up 77 percent of the data set of entries excluding genetic modification) 23
Figure 2.1.2. Distribution of reported forestry biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification, by genus 23
Figure 2.1.3A. Distribution of biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification, by broad category (genetic diversity characterization; mapping, marker-assisted selection and genomics [MMG]; and micropropagation) 24
Figure 2.1.3B. Distribution of biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification, (genetic diversity characterization; mapping, marker-assisted selection and genomics [MMG]; and micropropagation) by number of tree genera 24
Figure 2.1.4. Distribution of molecular markers used in forest biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification 25
Figure 2.1.5. Distribution of reported forest biotechnology activities, excluding genetic modification, by category and applications (laboratory studies, field trials and commercial deployments)1 25
Figure 2.1.6A. Distribution of forest genetic diversity characterization activities by region where the work is/was carried out 27
Figure 2.1.6B. Distribution of forest genetic diversity characterization activities by region of origin of the species studied; ‘unknown’ relates to undocumented sources, or to hybrid species, varieties and clones 28
Figure 2.1.7. Distribution of genetic diversity studies by forest tree genus 28
Figure 2.1.8. Main objectives of reported studies on forest tree genetic diversity 29
Figure 2.1.9A. Distribution of research related to mapping, marker-assisted selection and genomics (MMG) in forest tree species by region where the work is being carried out 31
Figure 2.1.9B. Distribution of research related to mapping, marker-assisted selection and genomics (MMG) in forest tree species by region of origin of the species studied 31
Figure 2.1.10. Distribution of mapping, marker-assisted selection and genomics (MMG) activities, by genus 32
Figure 2.1.11. Distribution of the main traits targeted in marker-assisted selection studies 32
Figure 2.1.12. Methodological approaches associated with mapping, marker-assisted selection and genomics (MMG) in forestry 33
Figure 2.1.13A. Distribution of micropropagation activities by region of activity 35
Figure 2.1.13B. Distribution of micropropagation activities by region of origin of the species studied 36
Figure 2.1.14. Distribution of micropropagation activities by genus 36
Figure 2.1.15. Categories of biotechnologies used in forest tree micropropagation 37
Figure 2.1.16. Distribution of data set entries on genetic modification by region of the world 41
Figure 2.1.17. Distribution of reported forest tree genetic modification research activities by country (only those with more than five such activities in the data set are included) 41
Figure 2.1.18. Distribution of reported forest tree genetic modification research activities by genus 42
Figure 2.1.19. Main reported objectives of research activities in forest tree genetic modification 42
Figure 2.2.1. Traits targeted in genetic modification projects, in laboratory based experiments 61
Figure 2.2.2. Traits/genes targeted in projects with GM trees in field trials 63
Figure 2.2.3. Issues addressed in field trials with GM trees (percentage of projects addressing a particular issue) 64
Figure 2.2.4. Commercial benefits anticipated from GM trees (percentage of respondents citing benefit) 71
Figure 2.2.5. Environmental benefits expected from GM trees (percentage of respondents citing benefit) 72
Figure 2.2.6. Human health benefits expected from GM trees (percentage of respondents citing benefit) 73
Figure 2.2.7. Anticipated commercial risks of GM trees (percentage of respondents citing risk) 75
Figure 2.2.8. Anticipated human health risks of GM trees (percentage of respondents citing risk) 76
Figure 2.2.9. Anticipated environmental risks of GM trees (percentage of respondents citing risk) 77
Figure 2.2.10. How risks involved with tree genetic modification can be addressed (percentage of respondents giving reply) 79
Figure 2.2.11. Obstacles to the use of genetic modification in trees. Most respondents identified more than one obstacle (percentage of respondents citing obstacle) 81