Czech and Korean researchers clinch biomass patent

European Research

A Czech-South Korean research team has obtained a patent on a new method supporting plant biomass production which will also allow the cultivation of plants with a bigger biomass production. Both the food-processing and pharmaceutical industries can, in theory, use the patent, according to the team.

'The invention, which enables the cultivation of plants with an increased production of mass, presents the results of fundamental research activities,' Dr Eva Janouskovcova from Technology Transfer Office of Masaryk University told Research Headlines. 'Such an increase may be an advantage for the food or pharmacy industry,' she said. 'No less important is the production of energetic plants, such as the sorrel of Uteush. Even more applications can be found in biotechnology for the decontamination of affected soil by phytoremediation.

'The Czech researchers from the University's Institute of Experimental Biology determined that proteins and plant hormones play a key role in the division of plant stem cells, which can also be used with genetic engineering supporting methods. 'We have uncovered that a genetic intervention causing the regulation of these proteins' activities can modify plant growing,' project leader Dr Jan Hejatko explained.

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