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Engineering of plants for improved fi bre qualities 163

flax hypocotyls (Douchiche et al., 2010). A better understanding of the
genes involved in such stress responses could also provide novel targets for
genetic improvements as well as leading to a better control of fi bre forma-
tion in different conditions.

7.6 Conclusions
Although it is only 27 years since the production of the fi rst transformed
plants, it is now clear that genetic engineering is able to signifi cantly improve
a wide range of plant characteristics (Chua and Tingey, 2006). An increasing
number of recent studies are also showing that this technology is able to

modify fibre structure, either by acting on native polymers, or by inducing
the production of novel polymers. The main challenge is to identify the best

targets (genes) for modification and this ultimately depends on improving
our basic understanding of the relationship between genes and fi bre struc-
ture. Recent advances in whole genome approaches and systems biology
are allowing us to rapidly increase our knowledge of fibre species genomes.

It is therefore clear, at least from a biotechnological point of view, that the

engineering of fibre plant species is possible. Certainly, as highlighted by
the recent European embargo on the importation of Canadian linseed, the
success of this approach also depends upon public acceptance of this tech-
nology.

7.7 Acknowledgements
This study was supported by grants NR 12 0009 06 and NN 302061834 from
the Polish Ministry of Science and Education, and by the ‘Conseil Régional
du Nord Pas-de-Calais’ of France (Project ARCir, Plant Teq 4).

7.8 References
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and balangé ap. 2004. Identification and isolation of a pectin methylesterase

isoform that could be involved in flax cell wall stiffening. Planta 219: 369–378.
aspeborg h, schrader j, coutinho pm, stam m, kallas a, djerbi s, nilsson p, denman
s, amini, b sterky f, master e, sandberg g, mellerowicz e, sundberg b, henrissat
b and teer tt. 2005. Carbohydrate-active enzymes involved in the secondary cell
wall biogenesis in hybrid aspen. Plant Physiol. 137: 983–997.
baley c, perrot y, busnel f, guezenoc h and davies p. 2006. Transverse tensile
behaviour of unidirectional plies reinforced with fl ax fi bres. Mater. Lett. 60(24):
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batista r and oliveira mm. 2009. Facts and fictions of genetically engineered food.
Trends Biotechnol. 27(5): 277–286.
baucher m, petit-conil m and boerjan w. 2003. Lignin: genetic engineering and
impact on pulping. Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 38: 305–350.

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