Cell wall lignin programme: Manipulating lignin to improve biofuel conversion of plant biomass

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Other bio-energy)

Basic and strategic applied research

BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences)

Not Cross-cutting

Prof C Halpin
College of Life Sciences
University of Dundee

Research Grant

BBSRC

20 April 2009

19 April 2014

60 months

£1,746,760

Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology

Scotland

Bioenergy Initiative (BEN)

Prof C Halpin, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee

This grant is linked to BB/G016194/1.

Plant biomass is made of cell walls of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin (lignocellulose). It is difficult release the lignocellulosic sugars for biofuel production because lignin is extremely resistant to degradation. We have already proven that manipulating lignin can make cellulose more accessible for papermaking and forage digestibility. It could just as easily be manipulated to improve saccharification of plant biomass, making biofuels more feasible and competitive. We will study the relationship between lignin content/composition and (1) saccharification/fermentation of straw; (2) combustion of different straws. We will work in barley, a good research model for biomass grasses. We will isolate barley genes, alleles, and genetic markers that associate with high saccharification. These can subsequently be used in MAS of improved energy crops. We will also investigate whether any lignin genes are associated with disease resistance or stem strength so that we know how to manipulate lignin while keeping plants healthy. We will achieve this by performing QTL mapping and novel association genetics using both a 'candidate gene' (lignin genes) and a 'hypothesis-free' genome-wide approach. This will tell us which lignin genes most influence saccharification and whether we can manipulate them without affecting disease resistance and stem strength. It will also point out other major loci affecting saccharification, as will eQTL analysis. If possible, we will identify and clone these genes which could be novel candidates for manipulating lignin to optimize biofuel production. Among the genotypes we investigate, there will be TILLING mutants and transgenics suppressed in lignin gene expression, enabling us to determine the effects of more extreme lignin gene alleles or manipulations. We will also characterize the natural diversity that exists in barley landraces for these genes. Useful mutant and landrace alleles can be directly incorporated into breeding programmes.

30/09/13