CONSTRUCTIONS D'ADN CONTENANT DES MOLECULES D'ACIDES NUCLEIQUES CODANT POUR LA SAMDC ET PROCEDES POUR MODIFIER LA TENEUR EN LIGNINE DES PLANTES OU COMPOSITION UTILISANT CEUX-CI
Polynucleotides, DNA constructs and methods are disclosed for the modificationof lignin content in plant tissues. Plants are transformed with a DNA moleculeencoding an active S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMdc) enzyme. The over-expression of a SAMdc gene in the plant's vascular system leads to decreased S-adenosylmethionine availability and consequently to an overall decrease inlignin content. Plant transformants harboring a SAMdc coding nucleic acidmolecule are expected to demonstrate decreased levels of lignin, a trait thatis thought to render woody trees more amenable to cellulose extraction andimprove the pulping and papermaking processes.