Eucalyptus trees could help us create sustainable biofuels as well as act as a year-round biomass that does not compete with other crops.
Researchers analyzed over 640 million base pair genome of the Eucalyptus grandii, a Joint Genome Institute news release reported.
Trees work to capture and store carbon dioxide. The secondary cell wall material of the trees can be harvested for purposed such as "pulp, paper, biomaterials and bioenergy applications," the news release reported.
"A major challenge for achieving a sustainable energy future is our understanding of the molecular basis of superior growth and adaptation in woody plants suitable for biomass production," Alexander Myburg of the University of Pretoria, said in the news release.
"Our comparative analysis of the complex traits associated with the Eucalyptus genome and other large perennials offers new opportunities for accelerating breeding cycles for sustainable biomass productivity and optimal wood quality," Dario Grattapaglia of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and Catholic University of Brasilia said in the news release. "In addition, insights into the trees' evolutionary history and adaptation are improving our understanding of their response to environmental change, providing strategies to diminish the negative environmental impacts that threaten many species."
Eucalyptus trees are native to Australia, but have been planted all over the world. Their "energy-rich cellulosic biomass" makes them one of the best candidates for biomass energy crops.
The trees have an unusually high proportion of duplicate arrays, which could help shape the functional diversity of the wood. The team also found that Eucalyptus has a high diversity of genes for specialize metabolites called terpenes. These could help the trees defend themselves from pests.
"By having a library of these genes that control the synthesis of terpenes we are able to dissect which genes produce specific terpenes; then we can modify this biochemical pathway in the leaves so that we can develop the potential of Eucalyptus as an alternative source feedstock for jet fuel," ORNL's Jerry Tuskan said in the news release.
This research could help breeders adapt the Eucalyptus tree to be used for sustainable energy.
"Eucalyptus has a truly unique evolutionary history," Tuskan said. "This, along with its keystone ecological status and ability to adapt to marginal terrain, make Eucalyptus an excellent focus for expanding our knowledge of the evolution and adaptive biology of perennial plants."
