Engineered Oil Sorghum Shows Promise as Biofuel Feedstock

A study from the University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign and the University of Nebraska‐Lincoln has shown that genetically engineered oil sorghum can accumulate substantially more oil in its leaves and stems while maintaining strong field performance. The findings of the study support the potential of the engineered sorghum as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The engineered grain (TX430) and sweet (Ramada) sorghum lines were designed to accumulate triacylglycerols (TAG), an energy-rich oil used for SAF and other biofuels, in their vegetative tissues. The research team evaluated engineered lines across multiple field sites in Nebraska and Illinois over two growing seasons to assess oil production and agronomic performance under different environmental conditions.

The results showed that the grain sorghum lines produced about 19 times more TAG than conventional plants, while sweet sorghum lines accumulated up to 25 times more TAG in their leaves. Although the engineered grain sorghum showed an 18% reduction in biomass, the sweet sorghum maintained biomass comparable to conventional varieties while achieving the highest oil yields. The modifications did not affect structural carbohydrates or ash content.

The researchers conclude that increasing oil accumulation in vegetative tissues is a promising strategy for producing high-biomass sorghum as a dual-purpose biofuel crop. They recommend future research to reduce biomass yield penalties in grain sorghum and improve nutrient use efficiency to support the commercial development of oil sorghum for sustainable aviation fuel and other biofuels.

For more information, read the study from Plant Biotechnology Journal.