What is it about?
Some compounds secreted by plants are able to inhibit lignification of neighbor plants, decreasing their velocity of growth. We sprayed three natural lignin inhibitors on young sugarcane, soybean and brachiaria crops and observed a moderate to huge increase in saccharification of lignocellulose of mature harvested plants.
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Why is it important?
Our research demonstrate for the first time that is possible to apply natural or biodegradable synthetic compounds to improve crop features of interest. We dubbed this technology of Physiological Engineering since it allows ameliorate crops using physiological modulators instead of manipulating the genome by molecular engineering.
Perspectives
We are now testing the technology in industrial scale in a partnership with Raízen, the first industry to produce cellulosic ethanol in the world. We also have been developing other phenotype modifications by Physiological Engineering such as organ-specific lignin inductors (to prevent diseases, reduce tipping, and mechanical damage of grains); growth stimulants (to accelerate reforesting, recover degraded pasture, and improve crops settling); Inducers of antioxidants (to improve shelf time of fruits); biodegradable pesticides; and so on.
Dr Wanderley D dos Santos
Universidade Estadual de Maringa
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Natural lignin modulators improve lignocellulose saccharification of field-grown sugarcane, soybean, and brachiaria, Biomass and Bioenergy, January 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2022.106684.
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