Scientists modify corn to bulk up its sugary biomass

Biomass Magazine March 2009
By Ryan C. Christiansen
Web exclusive posted March 6, 2009, at 11:02 a.m. CST

Scientists at the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have genetically modified corn so that it grows larger with fewer grains, more leaves, and a bigger stalk full of sugars. The genetic modification might help scientists to engineer corn and its relatives to produce bulkier, more sugary biomass for energy crops.

“What we've done with corn could also apply to sorghum, sugarcane, miscanthus, switch grass, and other plants related to corn that are being talked about for biofuels,” said Stephen Moose, associate professor of maize functional genomics and genetics at the University of Illinois. “We may have some potential there.”

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