Korean Journal of Breeding Science (한국육종학회지)

The Korean Society of Breeding Science (한국육종학회)
권호 표지

Biofuel: Current Status in Production and Research

  • Yu, Ju-Kyung (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University) ;
  • Park, Soon Ki (Division of Plant Biosciences, Kyungpook National University)
  • Received : 2010.06.07
  • Published : 2010.06.30
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Finding alternative and renewable energy sources has become an important goal for plant scientists, especially with the demand for energy increasing worldwide and the supply of fossil fuel being depleted. The most important biofuel to date is bioethanol which is produced from sugars (sucrose and starch) found in corn and sugarcane. Second generation bioethanol is targeting studies that would allow the use of the cell wall (lignocellulose) as a source of carbon by non-food plants. Plant scientists, including breeders, agronomists, physiologists and molecular biologists, are working towards the development of new and improved energy crops especially, how to design crops for bioenergy production and increased biomass generation for biofuel purposes. This review focuses on: i) the current status of first generation bioenergy production, ii) the limitations of first and second generation bioenergy, and iii) ongoing research to overcome challenging issues in second generation bioenergy.

Keywords

References

  1. Bouton JH. 2007. Molecular breeding of switchgrass for use as a biofuel crop. Current Opinion in Genetics and Development 17:553-558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gde.2007.08.012
  2. Harris D, Debolt S. 2010. Synthesis, regulation and utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. Plant Biotechnology Journal 8:244-262. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7652.2009.00481.x
  3. Hatti-Kaul R. 2010. Biorefineries - A path to sustainability? Crop Science 50:S-152156
  4. Henry R. 2010. Evaluation of plant biomass resources available for replacement of fossil oil. Plant Biotechnology Journal 8:288-293. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7652.2009.00482.x
  5. International Energy Agency (IEA). 2004. World Energy Outlook 2004. OECD/IEA Paris, France.
  6. Keshwani DR, Cheng JJ. 2009. Switchgrass for bioethanol and other value-added applications:A review. Bioresource Technology 100:1515-1523 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2008.09.035
  7. Kintisch E. 2008. Sowing the seeds for high-energy plants. Science 320:478. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.320.5875.478
  8. Korth KL. 2008. Genes and traits of interest for transgenic plants. In Stewart CN, (eds), Plant Biotechnology and Genetics, Wiley, New Jersey, USA, pp193-210
  9. Langeveld JWA, Dixon J, Jaworski JF. 2010. Development perspectives of the biobased economy:A review. Crop Science 50:S142-150.
  10. McLaughlin SB, Kszos LA. 2005. Development of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a bioenergy feedstock in the United States. Biomass Bioenergy 28:515-535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2004.05.006
  11. Mitchel D. 2008. A note on Rising Food Prices. World Bank Policy Research Working, Paper No. 4682 (World Bank - Development Economics Group, Washington, DC).
  12. OECD/FAO (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development / Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2008. OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2008-2017. Paris, Rome.
  13. Pimente D, Patzek TW. 2005. Ethanol production using corn, switchgrass, and wood; Biodiesel production using soybean and sunflower. Natural Resources Research 14:65-76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-005-4679-8
  14. Qiu H, Huang J, Yang J, Rozelle S, Zhang Y, Zhang Y. 2009. Bioethanol development in China and the potential impacts on its agricultural economy. Applied Energy 87:76-83.
  15. Sanderson M, Adler P. 2008. Perennial forages as second generation bioenergy crops. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 9:768-788. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms9050768
  16. Sarath G, Mitchell RB, Sattler SE, Funnell D, Pedersen JF, Graybosch RA, Vogel KP. 2008. Opportunities and roadblocks in utilizing forages and small grains for liquid fuels. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 35:343-354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-007-0296-3
  17. Simmons BA, Loque D, Ralph J. 2010. Advances in modifying lignin for enhanced biofuel production. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 13:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2009.12.001
  18. Sims R, Hastings A, Schlamadinger B, Taylor G, Smith P. 2006. Energy crops: current status and future prospects. Global Change Biology 12:2054-2076. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01163.x
  19. Sticklen MB. 2008. Plant genetic engineering for biofuel production: towards affordable cellulosic ethanol. Nature Review Genetics 9:433-443. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg2336
  20. UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) 2009. Towards sustainable production and use of resources: Assessing biofuels. Paris, Rome.
  21. Waclawovsky AJ, Sato PM, Lembke CG, Moore PH, Souza GM. 2010. Sugarcane for bioenergy production: an assessment of yield and regulation of sucrose content. Plant Biotechnology Journal 8:263-276. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7652.2009.00491.x