Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding 2025, Vol.15, No.5, 202-210 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/tgmb 202 Review and Progress Open Access Prospects for Synthetic Biology and Sustainable Utilization of Torreya grandis Baofu Huang 1, Chuchu Liu 2, Guangman Xu 1 1 Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China 2 Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: guangman.xu@cuixi.org Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding, 2025, Vol.15, No.5 doi: 10.5376/tgmb.2025.15.0024 Received: 11 Sep., 2025 Accepted: 16 Oct., 2025 Published: 26 Oct., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Huang et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Huang B.F., Liu C.C., and Xu G.M., 2025, Prospects for synthetic biology and sustainable utilization of Torreya grandis, Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding, 15(5): 202-210 (doi: 10.5376/tgmb.2025.15.0024) Abstract This study summarized the molecular regulation and synthetic pathways of Torreya grandis in major metabolites such as sterols, amino acids and flavonoids. Through joint analysis of gene cloning, transcriptome and metabolome, it was found that some key genes play important roles in the synthesis and stress resistance of active components, and the regulatory potential of transcription factors in metabolic pathways was explored. The nutrient cycling and utilization of Torreya grandis at different forest ages were reviewed. It was expounded that precise nutrition management is crucial for the long-term stability and sustainable development of the forest stand. Combined with the methods of synthetic biology, the prospects and challenges of Torreya grandis in high-value utilization and the development of eco-friendly industries were proposed. This research aims to provide theoretical and technical support for the molecular breeding, functional component development and sustainable utilization of Torreya grandis. Keywords Torreya grandis; Synthetic biology; Functional ingredients; Molecular regulation; Sustainable utilization 1 Introduction Torreya grandis is a rare economic tree unique to China and has a long history of cultivation. Its kernel is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, sterols, flavonoids, amino acids and vitamins. These components make Torreya grandis not only a highly nutritious nut but also suitable for the production of edible oil and functional foods. Studies have shown that it also has great potential in medicine and has multiple health effects such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, lipid-lowering and anti-tumor (Yan et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023; Gao et al., 2024). Luo et al. (2021) and Quan et al. (2022) found that by-products of Torreya grandis, such as seed coat and seed meal, are also rich in polyphenols and proteins, which can be used to develop high-value-added natural products. Torreya grandis has significant economic and social value in forestry ecology, food industry and medical health. However, there are still many problems in the industrial utilization of Torreya grandis. Its growth cycle is very long, the fruiting time is late, the yield is limited, and it is difficult to meet the market demand (Hu et al., 2024). It has high requirements for soil nutrients and is often limited by insufficient elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus at different forest age stages, which can affect tree growth and seed quality (Wang et al., 2024; Fan et al., 2025). Meanwhile, the natural distribution range of Torreya grandis is limited. The breeding of superior varieties and efficient cultivation techniques are not yet mature. The utilization rate of by-products is also relatively low, which is prone to cause resource waste and environmental pressure (Luo et al., 2021; Quan et al., 2022). All these problems have restricted the efficient utilization and sustainable development of Torreya grandis. This study summarizes the current application status of Torreya grandis in the fields of forestry, food and medicine, analyzes the main bottlenecks, and explores the potential of new technologies such as synthetic biology in increasing yield, improving quality and enhancing resource utilization. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the high-value development and sustainable utilization of Torreya grandis through research achievements in multi-omics, molecular breeding and metabolic engineering.
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