Scientists successfully decode the secret of eucalyptus trees

An international team of scientists announced on June 11 that they had successfully decoded the eucalyptus tree genome, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the rapid growth and adaptation of this tree species, opening up prospects for developing hardwood tree planting activities in the future.

Eucalyptus trees are an important source of raw materials for paper and biofuel production. (Source: Science Daily)

In a study published in the journal Nature, a team of scientists from the Department of Genomics at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, sequenced the genetic code of one of the most widely cultivated tree species: Eucalyptus grandis.

The results showed that the Eucalyptus grandis genome contained more than 36,000 genes, equivalent to "a medium-sized tree genome."

Eucalyptus grandis also contains the largest number of tandem duplications—two identical sequences, one following the other in a single chromosome segment—of any other sequenced plant genome.

Scientist Alexander Myburg - co-author of the study, said the research team was particularly interested in the ability of eucalyptus trees to produce wood with a very high cellulose content, making this tree extremely valuable in pulp and paper production.

The team was able to identify most of the genes involved in converting sugar into cellulose in Eucalyptus grandis as well as another major component of Eucalyptus grandis wood, lignin.

Mr. Myburg said the discovery could be valuable in finding ways to increase the amount of cellulose in plants, as well as ways to extract it more easily.

Cellulose is essentially a long chain of glucose molecules, which can be broken down into sugar and fermented into biofuel. Many experts say the research will boost the prospects of rapidly breeding eucalyptus trees for high yields and good wood quality.

Eucalyptus trees are known as native trees of Australia, an important source of raw materials for paper, wood, eucalyptus oil and a major source of biofuel. Eucalyptus has now become the most widely planted hardwood tree in more than 100 countries around the world./.

According to VNA