Disclosed is a method for increasing saccharification potential in a woody plant and for improving glucose yields in the plant, said method comprising overexpressing a polynucleotide encoding an acetyl xylan esterase polypeptide, wherein the acetyl xylan esterase is of fungal origin and a member of family CE1, in at least one cell type in said plant. Further disclosed is a method for producing a genetically modified woody plant, comprising overexpressing a polynucleotide encoding an acetyl xylan esterase polypeptide, wherein the acetyl xylan esterase is of fungal origin and a member of family CE1, in at least one cell type in said plant, wherein the said plant has increased saccharification potential as compared to a corresponding non-genetically modified wild-type plant. Further disclosed is a genetically modified woody plant overexpressing a polynucleotide encoding an acetyl xylan esterase polypeptide, wherein the acetyl xylan esterase is of fungal origin and a member of family CE1, in at least one cell type in said plant, and wherein the said plant has increased saccharification potential and increased glucose yields as compared to a corresponding non-genetically modified wild-type plant.
