Transcriptome analysis of poplar cambial zone during water stress and re-hydration.

Populus spp is a tree of a wide economic importance, particularly for wood employment. Poplars are among the most fast-growing trees found in the temperate regions and their high productivity is associated with large water requirements. Wood formation in trees is a dynamic process that is strongly affected by environmental conditions, including water availability. Drought can affect wood growth, directly, through effects on cambial cells and their derivatives. Wood formation is being increasingly studied at cellular and biochemical levels; however, gene expression and regulation during wood formation in response to abiotic stress are poorly understood. Physiological and morphological parameters coupled with DNA microarrays were used to study the effect of reduced water resources on cambial activity and developing xylem cells.