NDLI: Opportunities and roadblocks in utilizing forages and small grains for liquid fuels

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Sarath, Gautam Mitchell, Robert B. Sattler, Scott E. Funnell, Deanna Pedersen, Jeffery F. Graybosch, Robert A. Vogel, Kenneth P.
Copyright Year	2008
Abstract	This review focuses on the potential advantages and disadvantages of forages such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and two small grains: sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and wheat (Triticum aesitvum), as feedstocks for biofuels. It highlights the synergy provided by applying what is known from forage digestibility and wheat and sorghum starch properties studies to the biofuels sector. Opportunities therefore, exist to improve biofuel qualities in these crops via genetics and agronomics. In contrast to cereal crops, switchgrass still retains tremendous exploitable genetic diversity, and can be specifically improved to fit a particular agronomic, management, and conversion platform. Combined with emerging studies on switchgrass genomics, conversion properties and management, the future for genetic modification of this species through conventional and molecular breeding strategies appear to be bright. The presence of brown-midrib mutations in sorghum that alter cell wall composition by reducing lignin and other attributes indicate that sorghum could serve as an important model species for C4-grasses. Utilization of the brown-midrib traits could lead to the development of forage and sweet sorghums as novel biomass crops. Additionally, wheat crop residue, and wheat and sorghum with improved starch content and composition represent alternate biofuel sources. However, the use of wheat starch as a biofuel is unlikely but its value as a model to study starch properties on biofuel yields holds significant promise.
Starting Page	343
Ending Page	354
Page Count	12
File Format	PDF
ISSN	13675435
Journal	Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
Volume Number	35
Issue Number	5
e-ISSN	14765535
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publisher Date	2008-01-18
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Biofuels Forage digestibility Sorghum Switchgrass Wheat Microbiology Biochemistry Inorganic Chemistry Genetic Engineering Biotechnology Bioinformatics
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Medicine Bioengineering Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Biotechnology

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