Sorghum mutant RG displays antithetic leaf shoot lignin accumulation resulting in improved stem saccharification properties.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Improving saccharification efficiency in bioenergy crop species remains an important challenge. Here, we report the characterization of a Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) mutant, named REDforGREEN (RG), as a bioenergy feedstock.

Results

It was found that RG displayed increased accumulation of lignin in leaves and depletion in the stems, antithetic to the trend observed in wild type. Consistent with these measurements, the RG leaf tissue displayed reduced saccharification efficiency whereas the stem saccharification efficiency increased relative to wild type. Reduced lignin was linked to improved saccharification in RG stems, but a chemical shift to greater S:G ratios in RG stem lignin was also observed. Similarities in cellulose content and structure by XRD-analysis s

SUBMITTER: Petti C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3852544 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature