Genetic engineering of Eucalyptus spp.: current status and prospects for industrial forestry
- 1St. Petersburg State University
- 2St. Petersburg State University; All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Protection
Abstract
Eucalyptus L’Hér. spp. is one of the most important plantation tree crops worldwide. The present study reviews contemporary biotechnological approaches to its improvement. Key advantages of eucalyptus include high productivity, rapid growth, broad economic applications – ranging from pulp and timber production to essential oil extraction and carbon sequestration, as well as its ability to adapt to diverse soil and climatic conditions and accumulate biomass intensively. However, conventional tree breeding is constrained by long reproductive cycles, high heterozygosity, and the difficulty of predicting economically valuable traits. This makes molecular genetic approaches a strategically important tool for accelerating crop improvement. The commercial adoption of genetically modified eucalyptus is advancing most rapidly in Brazil, the only country where such lines are permitted for industrial cultivation. Among the developed varieties, H421 is distinguished by its increased wood productivity. Other lines are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate due to the cp4 epsps gene; and/or express genes of insecticidal Bt proteins that disrupt the functioning of the insect intestinal epithelium, providing protection against lepidopteran pests. These genetic modifications enhance plantation stability, reduce biomass loss, and contribute to the economic efficiency of forest production. Additional opportunities arise from molecular marker assisted selection, micropropagation, and genome editing using CRISPR/Cas technologies, which enable more targeted modifications of genetic material. This review also explores the potential of metabolic engineering to enhance the medicinal properties of essential oils. Developing these approaches necessitates improved protocols for the transformation and regeneration of eucalyptus, alongside a thorough assessment of environmental risks and regulatory aspects associated with genetically modified trees. A combination of biotechnological methods underpins the development of highly productive, resilient, and well-adapted eucalyptus varieties that align with modern requirements for sustainable forestry and environmental management. Consequently, genetic engineering represents a strategic tool for developing the next generation of high-yielding and stress-resistant eucalyptus plantations. However, its advancement requires a balanced approach that considers scientific, environmental, legal and societal factors.
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BibTeX
@article{bityukova2026genetic,
title = {{Genetic engineering of Eucalyptus spp.: current status and prospects for industrial forestry}},
author = {O. V. Bityukova and T. V. Matveeva and L. A. Lutova},
journal = {Биотехнология и селекция растений},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.30901/2658-6266-2026-3-o6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.30901/2658-6266-2026-3-o6},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Genetic engineering of Eucalyptus spp.: current status and prospects for industrial forestry
AU - O. V. Bityukova
AU - T. V. Matveeva
AU - L. A. Lutova
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Биотехнология и селекция растений
DO - 10.30901/2658-6266-2026-3-o6
UR - https://doi.org/10.30901/2658-6266-2026-3-o6
AB - Eucalyptus L’Hér. spp. is one of the most important plantation tree crops worldwide. The present study reviews contemporary biotechnological approaches to its improvement. Key advantages of eucalyptus include high productivity, rapid growth, broad economic applications – ranging from pulp and timber production to essential oil extraction and carbon sequestration, as well as its ability to adapt to diverse soil and climatic conditions and accumulate biomass intensively. However, conventional tree breeding is constrained by long reproductive cycles, high heterozygosity, and the difficulty of predicting economically valuable traits. This makes molecular genetic approaches a strategically important tool for accelerating crop improvement. The commercial adoption of genetically modified eucalyptus is advancing most rapidly in Brazil, the only country where such lines are permitted for industrial cultivation. Among the developed varieties, H421 is distinguished by its increased wood productivity. Other lines are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate due to the cp4 epsps gene; and/or express genes of insecticidal Bt proteins that disrupt the functioning of the insect intestinal epithelium, providing protection against lepidopteran pests. These genetic modifications enhance plantation stability, reduce biomass loss, and contribute to the economic efficiency of forest production. Additional opportunities arise from molecular marker assisted selection, micropropagation, and genome editing using CRISPR/Cas technologies, which enable more targeted modifications of genetic material. This review also explores the potential of metabolic engineering to enhance the medicinal properties of essential oils. Developing these approaches necessitates improved protocols for the transformation and regeneration of eucalyptus, alongside a thorough assessment of environmental risks and regulatory aspects associated with genetically modified trees. A combination of biotechnological methods underpins the development of highly productive, resilient, and well-adapted eucalyptus varieties that align with modern requirements for sustainable forestry and environmental management. Consequently, genetic engineering represents a strategic tool for developing the next generation of high-yielding and stress-resistant eucalyptus plantations. However, its advancement requires a balanced approach that considers scientific, environmental, legal and societal factors.
SN - 2658-6266
SN - 2658-6258
ER -