Biotechnological interventions in bamboo plants

Key messageFast-growing bamboo has significant socioeconomic value. Due to industrial overexploitation and inadequate resource management, there is a growing gap between the supply and demand for bamboo. The use of biotechnology can enhance and regulate bamboo growth for environmentally friendly output. For improved use and adaption as a sustainable bioresource, this review offers a thorough overview of bamboo biotechnology. Bamboo, a fast growing plant, is a valuable and renewable bioresource with great socioeconomic value. Sustainable production is needed to combat industrial overexploitation by the paper, pulp, and fuel industries, as well as improper resource management that has widened the gap between supply and demand. Biotechnology applications, such as in vitro propagation and tissue culture, offer a range of solutions for improved and controlled growth, resulting in a more effective and reliable production chain. Seed propagation is ineffective for bamboo due to low seed viability, while vegetative propagation is limited to small-scale production. Genetic transformation of bamboo species remains limited, although the bamboo genome is now better understood and genetic improvement is possible. This review discusses protocols for in vitro propagation, in vitro flowering, synthetic seed production, and transgenic techniques used to improve bamboo. In addition, the application of next-generation sequencing technology to bamboo plants will be examined for fundamental processes related to growth and stress regulation, lignin and cellulose biosynthesis, secondary cell wall deposition, and flowering behavior. This review will provide researchers with a comprehensive overview and better understanding of bamboo biotechnology for better utilization and adaptation as a sustainable bioresource.