Genetically Engineering Bonsai Trees

For years bonsai has been an art form limited to growing trees available in nature. Occasionally a tree produces a mutation and a new cultivar or variety emerges, but for that most part the process was happenstance and slow.

Genetic engineering offers an opportunity to throw bonsai rapidly into the 21st century.
Imagine a Japanese Black Pine tree infused with genes from a small leaved plant like a Nea buxifolia. The resultant tree could have super small needles all the time and really help create credible tree images on small scale. Take it one step further. Give the tree drought resistant genes, Roundup tolerant genes for weed control (BTW already done for potatoes) and cross it with the gene from a begonia that tolerates low light. You now have a super great looking indoor pine tree.

The imagination is the only real limit.

I am not a geneticist but have done some reading and thinking on the subject. For some background and a real quick read try this web page.
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BA/Transforming_Plants.php

It takes some knowledge of the plants' DNA, a transfer vector and the space to grow the resulting product. Shouldn't this be the real future of the art?

Not for me, thankyou very much. Native trees are what I want and thats the way it'll stay. GM will never be valued and appreciated like the real thing.

will baddeley wrote:Not for me, thankyou very much. Native trees are what I want and thats the way it'll stay. GM will never be valued and appreciated like the real thing.

Interesting point of view. Never is along time. In time it probably won't be known what was native and what was not and then again, what is native anyway?

Why would it not be known what was native and what was not? I also think you know whats native or indigenous. I think there is enough problem with non native flora running riot through our native environments, without this man made menace as well.

Hi Rob,

I think bonsai already has evolved in a kind of 'Frankenstein' way. It is now perfectly possible to add or replace branches at any place with the correct grafting techniques. Lots of possibilities with techniques which nowadays are available. I guess manipulating plants DNA could open many new doors with amazing results, but I think this will not be available for commercial use very soon. And we would also have to consider this can be a little dangerous too, if everybody would have this knowledge. Example: Jurassic park is a science fiction movie about manipulating DNA of prehistoric dinosaurs. I wouldn't be amazed it this would be possible in real life too with science going this fast. Cloning is also something based on DNA, the chain of all life. Could be helpfull to find cures for diseases like cancer etc., but I doubt if it ever will be used for bonsai purposes. Maybe after x years it will be possible, but wouldn't it take away all the fun of doing bonsai???

Regards,
Hans

Hans Vleugels wrote:Hi Rob,

I think bonsai already has evolved in a kind of 'Frankenstein' way. It is now perfectly possible to add or replace branches at any place with the correct grafting techniques. Lots of possibilities with techniques which nowadays are available. I guess manipulating plants DNA could open many new doors with amazing results, but I think this will not be available for commercial use very soon. And we would also have to consider this can be a little dangerous too, if everybody would have this knowledge. Example: Jurassic park is a science fiction movie about manipulating DNA of prehistoric dinosaurs. I wouldn't be amazed it this would be possible in real life too with science going this fast. Cloning is also something based on DNA, the chain of all life. Could be helpfull to find cures for diseases like cancer etc., but I doubt if it ever will be used for bonsai purposes. Maybe after x years it will be possible, but wouldn't it take away all the fun of doing bonsai???

Regards,
Hans

I agree that generic engineering is not without risk, but the risk can be managed. Just think of how the risk of surgery has progress over the years. To the point of heart transplants and etc. - unfathomable to a English guy like William Harvey in the 1500's.

As for taking away the fun, I don't know. We try leaf reduction techniques now - so we take it a step further and introduce DNA into the equation. People try already to propagate genetic sports and as you mention, grafting. DNA manipulation is another step.

I don't believe it is that far off into the future. Plants clone much simpler than animals and cloning is basically done when one layers or grows a cutting. Plant cell DNA can be readily altered by using transfer vectors which can be done in a garage with bacteria. What's to stop an enthusiast with some scientific know-how from trying? There is a large industry already out there looking at plant manipulation for a variety of reasons. Aesthetics can't be far behind.

Your reference to Jurassic Park is interesting. A more germane fiction book on the topic is "The Windup Girl"

Rob,

but what about Zushio [ white pines] how much smaller do you want those needles?
I looked at Zushio as being almost not usable, just get a juniper is the next stage.

With time and looking, I find so many variations in the local trees, that I am at a loss to understand what more could one want.

About 7 months ago I came across a natural variation of the Murraya paniculata from seed, that was so amazing, I am hoping this is still not a waking dream. Leaflets slightly larger than the leaves of a small Fukien tea, and the shrub is healthy, branching and growing. If it continues to stay as it is, we will have a Murraya, that looks good and very dense at 12 inches [30 cm ] or so.
I will post an image tomorrow.

With time I know I will find a multi-branching, naturally American quarter sized leaf seagrape.

There is already a Begonia with very small maple type leaves, for growing indoors, Chilterns on-line used to sell seed years ago before they came on-line and you had to order by mail.

I would tend to use genetic anything on figuring out how to become immortal, than interfere with crops or mother nature.
Too many mouths to feed, keep it in your pants, be mature. Not mess with crops.
Good idea, wrong direction.
Khaimraj

Thanks Rob for a very interesting thread. The possibilities as briefly mentioned by you are truly fantastic. Here is another case of pushing the boundaries of Bonsai as we know it today. I really wish, hope and pray that Genetic Engg takes off. Its a boon for bonsaists. Considering the benefits that one could possibly get, the few downsides could either be managed at best or overlooked at worst.

I also understand some of the reactions against the idea on this thread so far. Understandable and to be expected as with any innovation. Time is a healer and would answer many of the fears (mostly theoretical with rare exceptions) and then one can sit back and keep grinning ear to ear as we look at our sparkling gems of genetically engineered Bonsai trees. A few examples IMHO already exist. Most of the variegated varieties are indeed examples of Genetically Engineered species. Here in India I have see species like , Ficus, Jade (Portulacaria Afra), Casuarina, False Cypress to mention my top of the mind recall as variegated species.

Having said this I also understand that such a possibility(with all the benefits you have mentioned) might not be overnight (wish it was though) and might take a while. But with such positive takeaways, the wait is certainly worth it.

If in your knowledge you have found someone who is at it ... I'd be too glad to share my address for shipping...

Regards
Ravi

Sorry Ravi but what your talking about is not genetic engineering, but cross polination. This can happen naturally or be induced by man. Nothing to do with what Rob is advocating. We have absolutely no idea of the long term effects of messing with nature in this way and I for one will stick to grafting if I feel the need for different characteristics.

Genetic engineering is possibly the dumbest uncontrolled experiment humankind has ever conducted on the earth (that and human induced climate change). Approved genetically modified agricultural crops have already proven that the genetic change cannot be controlled. Genitically modified canola has already become a weed here in Australia, and since it's resistant to herbicides, it's proving to be difficult to remove. The genetic modification has been shown to jump species as well. The implications of future "infections" of these mutations is impossible to determine or ascertain. And once it's out there it cannot be recalled.

We should recognize that nature messes about with genetic change all the time, but that it takes years for similar magnitude of mutation to occur, in the order of thousands of years, not in the order of days. The environment has time to adjust to these evolutionary changes. Additionally, natural genetic change is generally within species, not trans-species as we get with genetic engineering, like BT cotton for instance.

I'm not a fan of GM anything. The earth has provided us with plenty of quality species, I can't see the need for "improving " on what nature has given us.

Paul

Well said Paul. This has to be one of the scariest threads to date.

Now this has got me thinking.........

After reading what Hans, Will and Paul are saying, I seem understand the complexities of the matter. Having dwelt on the subject and some initial insights later, I feel that in today's world, whether we like it or not Genetic Engg is part of our lives and usually for the better. Sure it has its downsides like the ones that Paul has mentioned. IMHO those are the result of rushing into things without appropriate research into the matter. It is another matter as to who decides how much is necessary. I am sure that there are Government agencies which do the job to make the world a safer place. Once sufficient time has been invested into the matter and the downsides ruled out (like it has been done in many cases) the benefits can be safely applied. At times the opposition to Genetic Engg appears similar to what Alfred Nobel had to endure when he invented dynamite in the 1860's. Time has moulded what was called a curse into a beneficial tool even though some instances of misuse continue till date.

Then there are the ethical (which sometimes extend into religious) issues, like can we meddle with God's creation. There are views on this which span both extremes and I wouldn't take a stand on this one and rather leave it open ended.

Would like to conclude by saying that once sufficient care, time and research has gone into a particular application of Genetic Engg, in our case in Horticulture, we can sit back and enjoy the benefits of this advancement in technology.

Rob I hope that day comes sooner than later.

Ravi

I think that time is coming, sooner or a bit later. There will be more and more info on the net. And lots of "garage labaratories" will grow. Do You want to take controll of internet as it is in China? Maybe soon we have a "good pretence" for such a controll, too.
Then I see this theme is so wide. When I speak just about bonsai-GM-material, why not? A small needle indoor pine, hmmm :-) If it spreads somewhere in nature and doesn´t die out, it will die out sonn by collectors :-D
My friend, scientist, works very close, or partially on to GM.
On the other side, my local species are funny enough.
Regards, Rob!

I'm with Will on this. Natural mutation and selective breeding of new plants is fine by me and has worked in nature for millennia, but GM needs to be so very carefully controlled. Juts one badly thought out plant could spell disaster.

Just to play the fly in the ointment -

someone comes up with a zelkova, that retains all the density of branch, smallness of leaf and trunk abilities, and grows under a 10 watt LED, requires no winter rest, but automatically rests as required, able to grow worldwide. Ditto a pine.

How many purchase, excuse it as not a food, so the genetic manipulation is okay, and everyone displays ?

zuisho - http://bonsai.shikoku-np.co.jp/en/shugi/2010/03/goyomatsu-japanese-white-pinecultivate-nasu-goyo-popular-for-its-good-looking-in-europe-and-the-unit.html

There are many cultivars, of decidious, coniferous and evergreen that most have no knowledge of. The tropical world is only just starting down this road.

By the way aren't those "white" or other leaf variations of ficus, viral infections ?
Khaimraj