Texas AgriLife Research Bioenergy Program Receives $1 M USDA Grant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture supports the bioenergy research program of the Texas AgriLife Research through a $1 million grant. Dr. John Mullet, lead researcher and AgriLife Research geneticist said, that the grant will be used to conduct extensive work on three energy sorghum varieties and to screen for superior traits that would enhance yields. Various molecular biology tools such as gene mapping, positional cloning of genes and analysis of gene regulatory networks will be used to improve sorghum biomass yield, stem structure and composition.

 "Developing a domestic source of renewable energy will create jobs and wealth in rural America, combat global warming, replace our dependence on foreign oil, and build a stronger foundation for the 21st century economy," said US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. "This scientific investment will lay the foundation for a source of fuel made from renewable sources."

See the original news at http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=2140