Dr Christian Walter

Team Manager - Future Forests and Senior Scientist - Genetic Engineering

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About

Christian is a molecular biologist with specialised experience in genetic modification. Since joining Scion in 1992 his research has focused on developing genetic engineering  technologies for conifers and assessing the impact of genetically modified organisms in the environment. His current role is leading the Forest Genetics programme aimed at improving the quality and suitability of commercial trees for different end uses.

Qualifications

PhD (Molecular Biology) University of Bielefeld, Germany -1991
Diploma in Biological Science, University of Bielefeld, Germany -1985

Research capabilities

  • Conifer genetic engineering
  • Functional testing of cell-wall genes
  • Assessment (environmental and functional) of gene expression in transgenic forest trees in the field
  • Environmental impacts research with genetically modified trees.

Career highlights

  • Forest Research representative during proceedings of the Royal Commission on Genetic Engineering
  • Development of genetic engineering technology for conifers 
  • Preparation and presentation of Scion submission to ERMA, to a field test application by Crop & Food Research, 2007 
  • Associate Editor for Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, The Open Biotechnology Journal, Tree Physiology, Forest Genetics and In Vitro
  • Chief Editor of a book: Plantation Forest Biotechnology for the 21st Century (2004).
  • Consultancies for:
    • MAF Biosecurity
    • Landcare Research
    • FAO, Rome
    • Malaysian Palm Oil Board
  • PhD Supervisor for 9 PhD students
  • Coordination of NZ-wide research into the environmental safety of GE conifers.

Selected papers

Malone, .L.A., Todd, J.H., Burgess, E.P.J. Walter, C., Wagner, A. And Barratt, B.I.P. (2011): Developing risk hypotheses and selecting species for assessing non-target impacts of GM trees with novel traits: The case of altered lignin pine trees. Environmental Biosafety Research DOI: 10. 1051,ebr/2011109.

Burgess, E.P/J. Barraclough, E.I., Kean, A.M., Walter, C., Malone, L.A. No Impact of Transgenic nptII-leafy Pinus radiata (Pinales: Pinaceae) on Pseudodcoremia suavis (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) or its Endoparasitoid Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Environmental Entomology In Press.

Walter, C., Fladung, M. And Boerjan, W.: The 20-year environmental safety record of GE trees. Nature Biotechnology 28, 7: 656-658.

Lottmann, J., O’Callaghan, M., Baird, D. and Walter, C.: Bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere of field grown genetically modified pine trees (Pinus radiata D. Don) Environmental Biosafety Research - published online 11/11/2010.

Schnitzler, F.-R., Burgess, E.P.J., Kean, A.M., Philip, B.A., Barraclough, E.I., Malone, L.A., Walter, C. 2010: No unintended impacts of transgenic pine (Pinus radiata) trees on above-ground invertebrate communities. Environmental Entomology 39(4): 1359-1368.

Fenning, T.M., Walter, C. and Gartland, K.M.A. (2008): Forest biotech and climate change. Nature Biotechnology 26 (6): 615-617.

Henderson, A.R. and Walter, C. (2006): Genetic engineering in Conifer Plantation Forestry. Silvae Genetica 55,6: 253-262

Hoefig, K.; Moeller, R.; Donaldson, L.; Putterill, J. and Walter, C. (2006): Towards male sterility in Pinus radiata – a stilbene synthase approach to genetically engineer nuclear male sterility. Plant Biotechnology Journal 4: 33-343.

Grace, L.J.,  Charity, J.A.,  Gresham, B.,  Kay, N. and Walter, C.  (2005): Insect resistant transgenic Pinus radiata., Plant Cell Reports 24: 103-111.

Wheeler, N.; Chaix, G.; Monteuuis, O.; Walter, C.; Killerby, S.; Wang, H. and El-Kassaby, Y.A. (2004): Preliminary review of biotechnology in forestry, including genetic modification. FAO working paper FGR/59E., FAO, Rome, Italy

Walter, C. and Fenning, T. (2004): Development of genetically-engineered trees in plantation forestry – An issue of concern? The science and politics of genetically modified tree plantations. In:  Walter, C. and Carson, M. (edts) (2004): Plantation Forest Biotechnology for the 21st Century. Research Signpost, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.