Trade-offs between biomass growth and inducible biosynthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate in transgenic poplar

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a bioplastic that can be produced in transgenic plants by the coexpression of three bacterial genes for its biosynthesis. PHB yields from plants have been constrained by the negative impacts on plant health that result from diversion of resources into PHB production; thus, we employed an ecdysone analogue-based system for induced gene expression. We characterized 49 insertion events in hybrid transgenic poplar (Populus tremula x alba) that were produced using Agrobacterium transformation and studied two high-producing events in detail. Regenerated plants contained up to 1-2% PHB (dry weight) in leaves after 6-8 weeks of induction. Strong induction was observed with 1-10 mm Intrepid and limited direct toxicity observed. Confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize PHB granules in chloroplasts after chemical treatment to reduce autofluorescence. A greenhouse study indicated that there were no negative consequences of PHB production on growth unless the PHB content exceeded 1% of leaf weight; at PHB levels above 1%, growth (height, diameter and total mass) decreased by 10%-34%.