Genetic engineering of plants through manipulation of lignin biosynthesis

A tree having a characteristic genetically altered through the incorporation into the genome of the tree a homologous nucleotide sequence encoding p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase in the antisense orientation such that when the nucleotide sequence is expressed in the tree, the characteristic of the tree is altered, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of accelerated growth, reduced lignin content, altered lignin structure, increased disease resistance and increased cellulose content.

A method for altering a characteristic of a tree comprising the step of genetically down regulating the enzyme p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of accelerated growth, reduced lignin content, altered lignin structure, increased disease resistance and increased cellulose content.

A tree having a characteristic altered by genetically down regulating the enzyme p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of accelerated growth, reduced lignin content, altered lignin structure, increased disease resistance and increased cellulose content.

A xylem-specific gene promoter that directs the expression of a gene in the xylem of a tree.

An epidermis-specific gene promoter that directs the expression of a gene in the epidermal tissue of a tree.