Study: a fungus may turn agricultural waste into bioenergy

WCF Courier
By YUE WANG, Courier Medill News Service wcfcourier.com
Posted: Sunday, July 15, 2012 10:00 pm

WASHINGTON --- With the increasing popularity of ethanol, the biofuels industry is looking for more materials to increase production. A new study says a lowly fungus called white rot may offer a solution.

Currently, the bioethanol industry in the United States relies primarily on corn. However, only the grain part is used because the rest is too difficult to process. The white rot fungus, according to the study by a group of scientists from around the world, can produce unique enzymes to break down a wide range of materials, thus rendering almost the entire corn plant and other feed stocks into potential energy sources.

The white rot fungus is the only known microorganism that can break down lignin, the substance that gives plant stalks and wood their strength and rigidity. Lignin is partly the reason why many plants can't be used to harness energy.

Read more