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Genetically engineered tree to serve as a ‘biofuel’ source

15/Sep/2006: A group of scientists representing many institutions around the world, has mapped the complete gene sequence of the Western Balsam Poplar or Black Cottonwood tree (Populus trichocarpa), as a first step in using this species as a renewable source of ‘Biofuel’, which will replace fossil fuels in future.

This fast growing tree is found commonly in the dry arid regions of Western North America and its cell wall is made up of carbohydrate cellulose that can easily be converted in to ethanol, a biofuel that is widely used in ‘dual–fuel’ vehicles.

The mapping of gene sequence will help the scientists to understand how the cellulose is produced in this tree and how to modify the gene sequence to accelerate the production of cellulose. The results of this project have been published in the recent edition of the journal ‘Science’. Ecologist Stephen Difazio, one of the authors of this project, said that the poplar tree is the keystone species in many regions of United States and it can be grown as a crop for producing biofuel in the dry barren lands in United States. Selective breeding of poplar trees can help in developing varieties with shorter life-cycle and at the same time produce more cellulose.

Poplar trees absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and direct it to their roots and the surrounding soil. This quality makes them very unique and if cultivated as a tree crop, they could help in reducing the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Scientists involved in this project used ‘Shotgun sequencing’ (a method used in genetics to for sequencing long DNA strands) to decode the relatively smaller genome of this plant (one-sixth of the size of human genome and 40 times smaller than the pine tree genome). This method involves cutting the DNA strands in to small, easily sequenced bits and then reassembling the entire strand in computer to get the complete gene sequence.

The genome revealed that the poplar trees are resistant to diseases and contained more genes for wood formation. The team believes that in another 10 years time, breeding poplar trees for producing biofuel could become a reality, if the government regulations and public opinions do not delay the process. Gerald Tuskan, who led this team of scientists, said that genetically modified poplar trees will not replace the native population, but rather serve as an agricultural model that could be used as an alternative to corn, which produces almost all ethanol consumed in United States.

Biofuel releases less greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels and are widely used as an alternative to fossil fuel in United States and in Europe.

Kesavan Siva

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