Polynucleotide, DNA constructs and methods are disclosed for the
modification of cellulose content in plant tissues. Plants are
transformed with constructs encoding either an active Anabaena sp.
sucrose synthase gene or a soybean nodule sucrose synthase gene, which
leads to increased cellulose content when over-expressed under the
control of a cambium/xylem preferred promoter. Plant transformants
harboring an Anabaena sp. or a soybean nodule sucrose synthase gene
demonstrated increased content of cellulose, a trait that is thought to
improve woody trees for cellulose extraction during pulping and
papermaking.