CSIRO and USDA to Study Grass Genes for Biofuels
August 20, 2009| |
Researchers from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are collaborating to better understand the mechanism of genes responsible for growth and yield in grasses for bio-energy and food crops. A total of A$1.6 million was awarded to the team which will enable the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to enhance biofuel grasses development and CSIRO to increase the productivity of cereal food crops such as wheat.
Brachypodium, a tiny wheat-like plant, will be used as a ‘lab rat' for biofuels research. Unlike wheat, all the genes in Brachypodium have been sequenced by the DOE and are available publicly. In a press release, CSIRO says genes which enable biofuel crops to grow in marginal agricultural land will be identified. At the same time, the knowledge will enable researchers to improve yield and answer problems related to stress tolerance in crops such as wheat.
For the full article from CSIRO visit http://www.csiro.au/news/Biofuel-and-crop-research-grows.html
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