Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
June 7, 2007
University of Minnesota (U of M) researchers have received a
federal grant that could lead to a dual-purpose corn plant that
could double as food and fuel.
A U of M project, in collaboration with the
USDA-Agricultural Research
Service, is among 11 bio-based fuels research efforts
nationwide that will receive $8.3 million in funding from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Energy.
The awards were announced today.
U of M researcher Rex Bernardo and USDA-ARS scientist Hans Jung
received $715,000 for a three-year study on whether corn can be
bred for dual-purpose use as a grain and biomass. An estimated
235 million metric tons of corn stover (stalks, leaves, cobs,
husks and tassels) are available nationwide and could be
converted into biofuels, but corn-breeding research until now
has focused primarily on increasing grain yields. This study
will use DNA markers to create genetic information that in turn
can help create new corn varieties that produce both high grain
yields and stover that can easily be converted to fuel.
Bernardo is a professor in the department of agronomy and plant
genetics, which is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and
Natural Resource Sciences. Jung is an adjunct faculty member in
the agronomy and animal science departments.
The grant program, now in its second year, is part of a joint
effort by the USDA and the DOE to accelerate the development of
alternative fuels. For a complete list of 2007 grants, go to:
http://genomicsgtl.energy.gov/research/DOEUSDA/index.shtml. |
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