Biofuel breakthrough as scientists sequence grass genome

SCIENTISTS in the US have completed sequencing the genome of a wild grass which they claim will shed light on the genetics behind hardier varieties of wheat and improved varieties of biofuel crops.

The grass - Brachypodium distachyon - can be used by plant scientists as a model organism similar to key agricultural crops, including wheat and barley.

The genome is also similar to the potential bioenergy crop switchgrass, allowing researchers to identify genes linked to specific traits and apply the knowledge to the development of biofuel crops.

Molly Jahn, acting under secretary for research, education and economics at the US Department for Agriculture said: “Energy security looms as one of the most important scientific challenges of this century.

“This important research will help scientists develop switchgrass varieties that are more suitable for bioenergy production by identifying the genetic basis for traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance and the composition of cells.”

The variety sequenced by researchers will also allow them to insert foreign genes into the grass to study novel varieties and how they could be used in energy crop production.

John Vogel, a lead author and molecular biologist with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) said the work could be key in overcoming one of the major stumbling blocks in biofuel crop production – the difficulty in breaking down plants’ cell walls to create ethanol.

Dr Vogel and his colleagues are now leading work to promote the grass as an experimental model, distributing seeds to 300 labs in 25 countries and giving scientists worldwide free access to the sequence of the brachypodium genome.

12 February 2010