Cell walls in plants, particularly forest trees, are the major carbon sink of the terrestrial ecosystem. Chemical and biosynthetic features of plant cell walls were revealed early on, focusing mostly on herbaceous model species. Recent developments in genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, transgenesis, and associated analytical techniques are enabling novel insights into formation of woody cell walls. Here, we review multilevel regulation of cell wall biosynthesis in forest tree species. We highlight current approaches to engineering cell walls as potential feedstock for materials and energy and survey reported field tests of such engineered transgenic trees. We outline opportunities and challenges in future research to better understand cell type biogenesis for more efficient wood cell wall modification and utilization for biomaterials or for enhanced carbon capture and storage.

植物，特别是森林树木的细胞壁是陆地生态系统的主要碳汇。植物细胞壁的化学和生物合成特征很早就被揭示，主要集中在草本模式物种。基因组学、转录组学、表观基因组学、转基因和相关分析技术的最新发展使人们对木质细胞壁的形成有了新的认识。在这里，我们回顾了森林树种细胞壁生物合成的多级调控。我们重点介绍了当前将细胞壁工程化为材料和能源的潜在原料的方法，并调查报告了此类工程转基因树的现场测试。我们概述了未来研究中的机遇和挑战，以更好地了解细胞类型的生物发生，以更有效地修饰木材细胞壁并利用生物材料或增强碳捕获和储存。