Plant genetic engineering as powerful approaches in bioplastic production

Plants can provide a sustainable supply of biodegradable plastics by means of (polyhydroxyalkanoate) PHAs production. PHAs are a class of polymers with some unique properties which make them functionally equivalent to many of the petroleum-based plastics that are currently in the market place. However, unlike most petroleum-derived plastics, PHAs can be attained from renewable feedstocks and easily degrade in most biologically active environments. Plant genetic engineering, on the other hands, has provided researches to new insights towards large scale for raw materials productions required for biodegradable plastics such as PHAs. This review highlights a brief introduction to biodegradable polymers and plant genetic engineering as proper alternative tools for production of these economically important raw materials.