CABBI Researchers Develop Oil-Rich Sorghum

Researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) have developed a new variety of sorghum that produces significantly more oil than traditional sorghum, outperforming even soybeans in oil production per hectare.

In their study published in Plant Biotechnology Journal, the CABBI research team highlights the utility of a lab-to-field pipeline to deliver sorghum that's high in triacylglycerols (TAG). The researchers engineered sorghum to accumulate up to 5.5% dry weight TAG in its leaves and 3.5% dry weight in its stems under field conditions, equivalent to 78 times and 58 times more than unmodified sorghum, respectively. This level of production could provide about 1.4 times more oil per hectare than soybeans, making this a promising new feedstock for renewable fuels.

Researchers used a "push-pull-protect" strategy to engineer the sorghum, maximizing oil production in its leaves and stems. Field tests showed stable oil production across generations without sacrificing biomass.  While current oil sources like soybeans and oil palm cannot meet future demand, this high-oil sorghum offers a potential solution, especially given its ability to grow in harsh conditions. Researchers are continuing to refine the engineering process to further increase oil yields and make sorghum a reliable biofuel feedstock.

For more details, read the CABBI news release.