A team of researchers including an associate professor from Cal State Long Beach studied corn genes to understand the maximal growth potential of other plant species for the future use of biofuels.
If scientists gain greater understanding of how plants grow, “we can start moving away from using corn as both a food and fuel to just using corn as a food. We can then use other [plant] species that aren’t so important to us in a food perspective to use as biofuels instead,” said Simon Malcomber, an assistant professor and evolutionary botanist from the biological sciences department at CSULB, who is participating in the study.
The team is actively looking at miscanthus, generally known as zebra or porcupine grass, as a probable source for biofuel. Zebra grass grows quickly in many different habitats and can withstand cold temperatures. It is commonly used as an ornamental plant and can be found next to the Fine Arts Buildings on campus.
“Miscanthus has the possibility of being a good fuel,” said Elizabeth Nash, CSULB environmental science professor. “It appears that tests have been done [that] suggest you might get a higher energy yield than corn.”
From a genetic perspective, zebra grass is closely related to corn. The team focused on a gene in corn called sparse inflorescence 1 (SPI 1), which, if mutated or absent, will disfigure the corn’s appearance. Crop breeders can look at SPI 1 in zebra grass and try to manipulate the gene to maximize its growth potential, resulting in better crops.
Although zebra grass is being studied, some students believe corn should continue to be used as a source of biofuel.
“There have been more studies done on it,” said Gloria Sobowale, a senior biology major. “Corn is here now.”
Growing corn may be less eco-friendly than zebra grass, but further studies need to be done to confirm this.
“High-input corn requires large amounts of water, pesticides and fertilizers. Miscanthus can be grown with less water, little pesticides and fertilizers, and, I doubt that this would continue after several years of cultivation,” Nash said.
Other students would support the idea of using grass rather than corn if it will save them money.
“I think I would support it if it lowered gas prices — if it saved more money than it costs,” said Marianna Desalles, a freshman art major.
But Nash doesn’t think prices will drop if zebra grass is used as an alternative biofuel source.
“Prices of these items are not always determined by market conditions of just food and fuel,” she said. “In order to get [zebra grass] grown on a large scale, some sort of subsidy will be involved.”
Robert Bryson, a political science and Chinese major, said that although food and gas prices may not decline, “It’s still great that they are trying to find other alternatives. This year gas prices have been going through the roof. This caught more people’s attention, and they are finally starting to do something about it.”
Malcomber became part of the U.S. research teams from the UC San Diego, Pennsylvania State University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, located in New York, late last year.
“There’s so much stuff we don’t understand and don’t know. I think it’s a great idea,” said Kathy Sak, a part-time biology lecturer. “There is an old saying, ‘Necessity is the mother of invention.’ “
Thanks David :]
Great article Jennifer. Very informative