Genetically modified trees with improved abiotic stress resistance - recent accomplishments. A review.

Great progress has been made within the last few years in terms of abiotic stress resistance improvement of forest trees. The application of genetic modification techniques allows developing trees displaying superior growth under various abiotic stresses such as high salinity, drought, low temperature, and environmental pollution. Poplar, which is an important agroforestry crop, is especially responsive to improvement through genetic engineering. With the view of imminent environmental changes, the application of transformation techniques to forestry breeding seems to be an attractive perspective. Here, we review the most recent achievements of researchers developing genetically modified (GM) poplar trees displaying enhanced performance under unfavorable experimental conditions.