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Regulation of polyphenolics and genetic manipulation of lignins in grasses

Reference	BBS/E/W/00003134D
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Iain Donnison
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Gordon Allison, Dr Maurice Bosch
Institution	Aberystwyth University
Department	IBERS
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	707,200
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2008
End date	31/03/2012
Duration	48 months

Abstract

For fermentation, pyrolysis based transport fuel applications, and possibly gasification, a reduction in lignin levels or altered lignin structures and distributions within the plant will enhance the value of grasses entering industrial processes; whereas for combustion applications, increased lignin levels and high calorific value would be desirable. We have established technologies for monitoring lignin and phenolic acids in natural, mutant and transgenic populations of forages and have been extending this to energy crops including Miscanthus. Brown midrib (bmr) mutants of maize are known to have modified lignin structure and exhibit increased digestibility and we have shown that these mutants show higher rates of enzyme mediated sugar release than control plants. As such it may be predicted that the lignocellulose fraction of bmr mutants of Miscanthus may be more amenable to both enzymic release of cell wall sugars by fermentation or for production of high quality bio-oils via pyrolysis. Characterised bmr mutants occur in the CAD and OMT genes of the lignin biosynthetic pathway and opportunities exist for generating bmr mutants in Miscanthus by down-regulation of CAD and OMT gene expression. The CAD gene has been cloned in Miscanthus and is being used in an RNAi experiment in Miscanthus to mis-express the gene.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	Bioenergy, Crop Science, Industrial Biotechnology, Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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