Saturday, January 23, 2010

Sunflowers and Ethanol

Researchers have begun investigating sunflower genes in order to create new varieties that have a dual use--seeds for food and oil plus stalks for a range of uses including biofuel production. The project is a joint effort funded by government entities in Canada, France and the United States.

Officially known as Genomics of Sunflower, the project's goal is to create a reference genome that would enable new breeding programs. For example, researchers are interested in creating a hybrid from the wild Silverleaf species of sunflower, known for its tall, woody stalks that grow 10 to 15 feet tall and up to 4 inches in diameter in a single season. The reference genome would make it possible to crossbreed the Silverleaf with current species that produce high quality seeds, thereby creating two desirable traits in one plant.

Besides its woody stalks, researchers say the Silverleaf is highly drought resistant, a characteristic that would expand the potential range of the hybrid to include climates such as those in Sub-Sahara Africa.

The sunflower is the world's largest plant family with over 24,000 species. Researchers say they expect to complete enough of the reference genome to allow intial breeding programs to begin within four years.

Source: ScienceDaily.com

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