Abstract 2482 Coniferyl alcohol rescues aberrant root development phenotypes of Arabidopsis lignin mutants

Lignin, an abundant structural polymer found in plant cell walls, plays a significant role in maintaining plant structural integrity at both macroscopic and microscopic levels, but presents challenges in industrial utilization of lignocellulosic materials. In Arabidopsis thaliana, mutation and overexpression of CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE (CAD) and FERULATE 5-HYDROXYLASE (F5H), respectively, have been used to increase lignin degradability in crop plants. Although both strategies alone improve lignin characteristics, in combination they result in abnormal growth phenotypes.