BNL develops plant modeling system to optimize oil production

Biodiesel Magazine
By Bryan Sims August 10, 2011

Researchers at the U.S. DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have devised a computational model for analyzing the metabolic processes in rapeseed plants, particularly those related to the production of oils in their seeds. The goal was to find ways to optimize the production of plant oils that have widespread potential as renewable resources for fuel and industrial chemicals.

The model, described in two featured articles in the August issue of the Plant Journal, may help identify ways to maximize the conversion of carbon to biomass to improve the production of plant-derived biofuels, according to Jorg Schwender, BNL biologist who led the development of the model with postdoctoral research associate Jordan Hay.

Read more