British researchers make trees grow faster

04.03.2010: A research group around Professor Simon Turner of Manchester University has identified two genes that can enhance the growth of plants cultivated as bioenergy crops.

The genes PXY and CLE41 influence the growth of the tracheids, elongated vertical cells that have the function of transporting water in the tree trunk. By amplifying the expression of these genes, the researchers want to speed up the growth of various tree species that can be used as energy crops.