Unit 3 - Types of Forest Research


Lesson 5: Tree Improvement

Tree improvement is also an important area of forest research in Canada. The goal of this research is to produce trees with special traits. Some of these special traits may include

  • faster growth

  • better wood fibre quality

  • increased resistance to damaging insects, diseases, and environmental stresses (example, cold, drought, flooding, etc.)

By studying the DNA sequences of a tree, scientists can identify naturally-occurring trees that possess desirable genes. These can then be bred to yield trees with superior traits.

Scientists have also discovered ways to move specific genes into a host tree cell to produce new tree varieties with specific desirable traits. These techniques allow scientists to focus on one specific gene and one specific trait without the risk of altering other traits at the same time. Once developed, genetically engineered trees could be grown in tree plantations (if authorized to do so by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency). Although this practice would allow conservation of Canada's natural forests, there are associated risks.

The following article look at some of the issues associated with genetically-engineered trees.




Image Source: Pixabay

What is the Canadian Forest Service doing to evaluate the potential risks of releasing genetically engineered trees into the environment?

Several environmental safety questions must be considered when evaluating the risks associated with the release of any genetically engineered tree. Trees are long lived and will produce abundant pollen and seed, which could escape from plantations to become established in the wild. This might result in the establishment of genes (and corresponding traits) in related tree species that would interact with other organisms in the food chain or have an impact on the biodiversity of the forest ecosystem.

Scientists at the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) are aware of these possibilities and are conducting a range of risk assessment studies in the laboratory, in the greenhouse, and in confined research field trials - small, closely-monitored field trials regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Before a genetically engineered tree can be released into the environment, it must be assessed as safe. The studies performed by the Canadian Forest Service will assist in the decision-making and regulatory processes for the evaluation of genetically engineered trees. If the Canadian Forest Service then seeks regulatory approval for large-scale cultivation in unconfined conditions, these studies will also be used to provide data for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's environmental safety assessments.

Source: Natural Resources Canada