Stress-Tolerant Feedstock for Sustainable Biofuel Production on Marginal Lands

Identification of stress-tolerant biomass crops will be increasingly important as biofuels research continue. However, existing literature were mainly focused on the responses of a small number of crops to a single abiotic stress.

Thomas B. Voigt, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and his team reviewed several types of stresses most likely to be encountered by crops on marginal lands and under future climate scenarios. The stress responses of several leading biomass crops, which includes perennial grasses, short-rotation woody crops, and large trees, were summarized.

The study also noted that some crops could become invasive in some landscapes. Therefore, growers must take care to avoid spread of plant propagules outside of cultivation.