Sequencing the Sugarcane Genome: The Holy Grail of Biofuel?

July 8th, 2009 by Bryan Nelson

Australian scientists are aiming to finish sequencing the genome for sugarcane by this time next year. Once completed, it could lead to the development of a super biofuel.

Sugarcane is already being widely harvested as a biofuel, but with the genome mapped researchers could pinpoint exactly where in its DNA specific traits are found. Those traits could then be more precisely manipulated to create “supercane”– sugarcane richer in energy and more suitable for transformation into biofuel.

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According to Robert Henry, one of the project’s researchers: “Energy canes have been touted, both here and internationally, as one of the most efficient future options for producing plant-based fuels, plastics and many sought-after bio-products.” For instance, Brazil’s fuel independence is a shining example of how sugarcane-based ethanol could one day replace petroleum in places where the crop can be widely grown.

Even so, until now the complex nature of sugarcane’s genetic structure has been a hindrance to scientists hoping to tap its full potential. “This will be an outstanding outcome, and the resulting database will include sought after, significant genetic information,” said Henry.

The finished draft of the sequence is expected to be available by mid-2010.

Source: The BioenergySite

Image Credit: sektordua on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

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Tags: Agriculture, genetics, sugarcane

About the Author

Bryan Nelson has been making up for lost time since finishing his graduate degree in Philosophy by traveling and working to change the world. He has worked with groups like The Sierra Club, Environment America & U.S. PIRG, Environment Oregon & OSPIRG, and Progressive Future on local and national political campaigns. His environmental journalism can be found throughout the web, which also includes regular contributions to MNN.com. Between adventure and activism, he currently can be found doing freelance writing from his home in Hawaii.

http://www.cleantechnologies.ca Clean Technology

Ethanol production in Brazil uses sugarcane as feedstock and relies on first-generation technologies based on the use of the sucrose content of sugarcane. Ethanol yield has grown 3.77% per year since 1975 and productivity gains been based on improvements in the agricultural and industrial phases of the production process.
http://GlobalPatriot.com Global Patriot

Though it makes perfect sense, I hadn’t thought of the DNA implications when it comes to biofuel production. And while I’m not excited about genetically modifying the food we eat, creating plants that are fine tuned for fuel production can have dramatic effects on our energy situation.
http://GlobalPatriot.com Global Patriot

Though it makes perfect sense, I hadn’t thought of the DNA implications when it comes to biofuel production. And while I’m not excited about genetically modifying the food we eat, creating plants that are fine tuned for fuel production can have dramatic effects on our energy situation.
http://GlobalPatriot.com Global Patriot

Though it makes perfect sense, I hadn’t thought of the DNA implications when it comes to biofuel production. And while I’m not excited about genetically modifying the food we eat, creating plants that are fine tuned for fuel production can have dramatic effects on our energy situation.
http://extremegreenvillage.com Bob

The big question here would be how it would rate compared with algae.

Also, would the new “super cane” be able to be grown in non-food producing land?
http://extremegreenvillage.com Bob

The big question here would be how it would rate compared with algae.

Also, would the new “super cane” be able to be grown in non-food producing land?
Aureon Kwolek

There are numerous other programs developing advanced biofuel feedstocks. One is a non-profit serving India and Africa called ICRISAT, International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics. This is a non-political research organization that serves the poorest of the poor in the semi-arid areas of the developing world. ICRISAT has a 40 ton per acre per year sweet sorghum that rivals sugarcane in sugar content.

One sugarcane crop takes 12 to 16 months to mature, whereas their super sorghum can produce 3 crops in one year in the tropics. The plant also produces a grain plume, which the locals use to make flour and bread, and the leaves are used to feed their animals. After the sugary juice is squeezed to make ethanol, then you have the fiberous residue that can be put in a digester or a gassifier to make biogas or more fuel or energy. Super Sorghum is a highly advanced crop that small farmers can use to support their families and improve their standard of living.

Texas A&M has also developed a similar group of Super Sorghums that are well suited to more northerly climates, such as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska – where sugarcane is out of range. Again, you can plant sweet sorghum once a year and harvest it two or three times.

Here’s the Biggy: A variety of Corn is being developed with a sugary stalk. This could dramatically improve the productivity of the entire corn crop and the environmental footprint of corn ethanol refineries. Over 65% of Corn goes to livestock feed. So once we also get sugar out of corn stalk from all that feed corn, we’ll have another feedstock for domestic ethanol production that fits right into our infrastructure.

Biomass digesters and algae production are also being integrated into corn ethanol refineries. Waste CO2 bubbled through a 3% solution of sugar in ethanol plant waste water is an excellent growth medium for onsite heterotrophic algae – a double biofuel feedstock and a complete protein animal feed supplement.

Sugarcane and ethanol independence in Brazil is a remarkable achievement, but there is emerging agro-technology that will surpass it.
Aureon Kwolek

There are numerous other programs developing advanced biofuel feedstocks. One is a non-profit serving India and Africa called ICRISAT, International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics. This is a non-political research organization that serves the poorest of the poor in the semi-arid areas of the developing world. ICRISAT has a 40 ton per acre per year sweet sorghum that rivals sugarcane in sugar content.

One sugarcane crop takes 12 to 16 months to mature, whereas their super sorghum can produce 3 crops in one year in the tropics. The plant also produces a grain plume, which the locals use to make flour and bread, and the leaves are used to feed their animals. After the sugary juice is squeezed to make ethanol, then you have the fiberous residue that can be put in a digester or a gassifier to make biogas or more fuel or energy. Super Sorghum is a highly advanced crop that small farmers can use to support their families and improve their standard of living.

Texas A&M has also developed a similar group of Super Sorghums that are well suited to more northerly climates, such as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska – where sugarcane is out of range. Again, you can plant sweet sorghum once a year and harvest it two or three times.

Here’s the Biggy: A variety of Corn is being developed with a sugary stalk. This could dramatically improve the productivity of the entire corn crop and the environmental footprint of corn ethanol refineries. Over 65% of Corn goes to livestock feed. So once we also get sugar out of corn stalk from all that feed corn, we’ll have another feedstock for domestic ethanol production that fits right into our infrastructure.

Biomass digesters and algae production are also being integrated into corn ethanol refineries. Waste CO2 bubbled through a 3% solution of sugar in ethanol plant waste water is an excellent growth medium for onsite heterotrophic algae – a double biofuel feedstock and a complete protein animal feed supplement.

Sugarcane and ethanol independence in Brazil is a remarkable achievement, but there is emerging agro-technology that will surpass it.
Aureon Kwolek

There are numerous other programs developing advanced biofuel feedstocks. One is a non-profit serving India and Africa called ICRISAT, International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics. This is a non-political research organization that serves the poorest of the poor in the semi-arid areas of the developing world. ICRISAT has a 40 ton per acre per year sweet sorghum that rivals sugarcane in sugar content.

One sugarcane crop takes 12 to 16 months to mature, whereas their super sorghum can produce 3 crops in one year in the tropics. The plant also produces a grain plume, which the locals use to make flour and bread, and the leaves are used to feed their animals. After the sugary juice is squeezed to make ethanol, then you have the fiberous residue that can be put in a digester or a gassifier to make biogas or more fuel or energy. Super Sorghum is a highly advanced crop that small farmers can use to support their families and improve their standard of living.

Texas A&M has also developed a similar group of Super Sorghums that are well suited to more northerly climates, such as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska – where sugarcane is out of range. Again, you can plant sweet sorghum once a year and harvest it two or three times.

Here’s the Biggy: A variety of Corn is being developed with a sugary stalk. This could dramatically improve the productivity of the entire corn crop and the environmental footprint of corn ethanol refineries. Over 65% of Corn goes to livestock feed. So once we also get sugar out of corn stalk from all that feed corn, we’ll have another feedstock for domestic ethanol production that fits right into our infrastructure.

Biomass digesters and algae production are also being integrated into corn ethanol refineries. Waste CO2 bubbled through a 3% solution of sugar in ethanol plant waste water is an excellent growth medium for onsite heterotrophic algae – a double biofuel feedstock and a complete protein animal feed supplement.

Sugarcane and ethanol independence in Brazil is a remarkable achievement, but there is emerging agro-technology that will surpass it.
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