Development and commercialization of reduced lignin alfalfa
Reducing lignin content in forage legumes can improve digestibility and, correspondingly, animal performance, and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the first genetically engineered crop commercialized for improved forage digestibility. Lignin reduction was achieved by downregulating the gene encoding caf...
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Published in | Current opinion in biotechnology Vol. 56; pp. 48 - 54 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
Elsevier Ltd
01.04.2019
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Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Reducing lignin content in forage legumes can improve digestibility and, correspondingly, animal performance, and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the first genetically engineered crop commercialized for improved forage digestibility. Lignin reduction was achieved by downregulating the gene encoding caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT), and development of the commercial product, branded as HarvXtra, required the coordination of two research institutions and two companies, and more than 15 years of research and field trials. Lignin modification has positive impacts on forage management. Future developments will likely stack lignin modification with additional forage quality traits. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-2 |
ISSN: | 0958-1669 1879-0429 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.copbio.2018.09.003 |