Grant to Improve a Sustainable Biofuel Source

by Lauren Klamm (Source) Colorado State University is one of 10 institutions in a $13.8 million research grant to improve sorghum as a sustainable source for biofuel production. ... Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the five-year grant takes a comprehensive approach to better understand how plants and microbes interact, and which sorghum germplasm grows better with less water and nitrogen.

The research requires a range of expertise. CSU is working with scientists at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Danforth Plant Science Center, Washington State University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Boyce Thompson Institute, Clemson University, Iowa State University and the DOE-Joint Genome Institute.

To improve sorghum’s productivity with limited resources and high-stress conditions, the research team is taking a systems approach. Researchers across the country will investigate sorghum genetics as well as the soil microbes that interact with plants. The researchers are investigating strategies to increase plant biomass by improving water use and nutrient uptake efficiency. READ MORE and MORE (BizWest)