Hi John and all, I understand that the thing that makes trees stand tall is cellulose and lignin acts something like the glue that holds the fibers of cellulose together. Low lignin trees are much less costly to process into fiber to make paper and other stuff such as fiberboard. However, lignin provides protection from fungi, insects and bacterial diseases, the low lignin trees will need intensive chemical support to kill pests. Low lignin fodder is also being promoted because it is more digestible than natural fodder. Like the trees low lignin fodder is enjoyed by cows but the plants require a lot of chemical pesticide to survive. I think low lignin produces forests and pastures that the chemical industry will love, but humans may need some genetic engineering to survive the pesticides on the paper and in the cows fed treated fodder. Sincerely, Joe Cummins John D'hondt wrote: Just one sec now. Trees without lignin are still trees? Is not lignin the stuff that allows trees to stand upright and to be used for building and carpentry and such? Sounds counter productive to me this. A tree with less lignin must be less useful in all respects surely? Making a tree with more lignin I could understand better. But then that already exists:) A poplar with more lignin is an oak. JohnI sent Mike a personal note stating that I read some stories about GM trees a couple of years ago when I was in an archival management. The articles were aimed at archivist and discussed how the GM trees would have lower lignin content, so the buggies wouldn't want to eat it- good for archival purposes the article stated. Sampling of U.S. Research on Genetically Modified Trees (2001) ORGANIZATION SPECIES DESIRED TRAIT Michigan TEch, MI Poplar Reduced lignin content Westvaco, NY Pine, sweet gum Altered plant development Exelixis Plant Sciences, List from the article Technology Review (Cambridge, Mass.), March 2001 v104 i2 p34 Industry Huqs Biotech Trees by Kathryn Brown. Abstract: Genetically modified trees are the goal of three prominent paper and lumber producers. International Paper, Westvaco, and Fletcher Challenge Forests formed a joint venture for agricultural biotechnology research. The venture, called ArborGen, has been working on ways to produce trees without lignin, that are herbicide tolerant, and with controlled reproduction.******************************************************** To unsubscribe from SANET-MG: 1- Visit http://lists.sare.org/archives/sanet-mg.html and unsubscribe by typing in your e-mail address or; 2- Send a message to <listserv@sare.org> from the address subscribed to the list. Type "unsubscribe sanet-mg" in the body of the message. Visit the SANET-MG archives at: http://lists.sare.org/archives/sanet-mg.html &NBSP; ***************************************************** To unsubscribe from SANET-MG: 1- Visit http://lists.sare.org/archives/sanet-mg.html
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