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Unicamp prepares a team of researchers to carry out the genetic sequencing of sugarcane, destined to help increase ethanol production
Researchers from the State University of Campinas/SP, Unicamp, who work in the area of biotechnology and genetic development of sugarcane in São Paulo, are betting on the creation of a transgenic variety of sugarcane, endowed with the dry characteristic and already ready for use or sale on a commercial scale, the new genetics will allow for an expansion in ethanol production. The forecast is that this variety will already be available to consumers at all gas stations, some time from now.
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Initial elaboration of the sugarcane genetic improvement research
Specialist in agricultural genetics, researcher and coordinator of the Functional Genome Laboratory at Unicamp's Institute of Biology, Marcelo Menossi, said that his team of researchers has been working in various research segments that can help in the search for genes that can identify certain characteristics of the plant, which help in coping with water stress.
Menossi also said that he already has licensed genes and that there are some companies that are negotiating with the Unicamp laboratory to take these transgenic varieties to other studies.
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Unicamp highlights the sequencing of sugarcane genetics to help increase ethanol production
The studies that Unicamp researchers have been developing on transgenics are advancing rapidly due to the use of bioinformatics tools. For Menossi, the work of his team, together with advances in information technology, makes it totally feasible to create algorithms that can help in the search for essential genes, through the triangulation of specific characteristics.
Menossi and his team spoke about their journey in the laboratory, aiming to improve consumers' lives and bringing quality, cost-effective ethanol to gas stations.
The research coordinator reported that it is difficult to extract specific genes from sugarcane, but that the biggest challenge is to sequence the genetics of the sugarcane and make the synthetic gene. In addition, it is also necessary to replace the corn genes with genes from the sugarcane itself.
Advancement of similar research in other laboratories
Genetic sequencing research, which seeks drought-tolerant varieties, has also advanced at the Signal Transduction Laboratory at USP's Institute of Chemistry.
Glaucia Mendes Souza, a researcher and professor at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo – USP, who is also a specialist in molecular genetics and coordinator of BIOEN, reported that the raw material used (sugarcane) is entirely dedicated to the production of biomass, which assists in the generation of electricity.
Still according to the researcher, 'energy cane' reaches high levels of productivity, using around 250 tons per hectare. In the case of some very specific varieties, the same sugar production index remains, when compared to the more modern species that have been used. Several 'energy cane' genotypes were evaluated, still in the field, for many years in a row.
The results obtained were extremely satisfactory. Biochemistry believes that consumers will have access to a commercial species at gas stations. The next step is to carry out other experiments that can better assess drought tolerance.
The material in this article was created based on the article in Petronoticias.
