Nitrogen Use Efficiency

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Summary: Rutgers scientists have introduced a pine gene for ammonium assimilation (glutamine synthetase [GS]) into poplar resulting in superior field performance including increased height and volume growth compared with non-transgenic controls. The GS transgenics can contribute significantly to strategies for increasing energy biomass production in woody perennials. Our approach to engineering NUE can contribute significantly to strategies for increasing energy biomass production in woody perennials.   Market Application: We believe this technology is applicable not only to increasingly important fast-rotation poplar forestry, but also to other hardwood and perennial species important to bioenergy, and general horticulture. Other potential markets include enhanced biomass-to-bioenergy and carbon sequestration (capture of greenhouse gases) as related to strategies to combat climate change.   Advantages: This technology for engineering NUE using a pine GS gene in woody perenni- als is unique. Advantages include enhanced growth, drought resistance, enhanced wood properties, and resistance to phosphoinothricin herbicides. The tech- nology reduces the need for supplemental nitrogen fertilizer treatments during early estab-lishment of plantation forests.* *Man, H, R Boriel, R El-Khatib, and EG Kirby. Characterization of transgenic poplar with ectopic expression of pine cytosolic glutamine synthetase under conditions of varying nitrogen availability. New Phytologist 167: 31–39 (2005)