Metabolic Profiling for Revealing the Mechanisms of Wood Formation

Wood formation, as an organic life activates, the multiple metabolisms and energy exchanges involved in wood cell wall biosynthesis. However, the knowledge of metabolism during wood cell wall building is limited. Over the years, many researchers have conducted fruitful studies on the development of wood cells and the cell wall chemical components. Since the 21^st century, the process of wood formation has been explored at the gene level, transcription level and protein level based on the advance of molecular biology technology.This review gives a new insight to reveal wood formation on metabolic level and introduce the mainly metabolomics technology. In addition, the progresses of metabolomics technology in studies of wood formation and some preliminary thoughts are also mentioned. Understanding the molecular mechanism in wood formation not only benefiting for directive breeding of high quality wood species, but also is the foundation for wood functional modification and added-value utilized.