
Larry York: Rooting out solutions for better crops
Biologist Larry York’s fascination with plant roots has spurred his research across four continents and inspired him to create accessible tools that enable others to explore the underground world.
Biologist Larry York’s fascination with plant roots has spurred his research across four continents and inspired him to create accessible tools that enable others to explore the underground world.
After inoculation with Serendipita fungi, switchgrass root hairs increase in density and surface area. Credit: Prasun Ray et al., IS-MPMI.* Serendipita fungus has a special relationship with plants. When it colonizes the roots of switchgrass, the fungus does not hurt the plant. In fact, it has been shown to increase the plant’s drought tolerance, seed […]
Genetic modifications to these poplar trees made it easier to extract sugars for fermentation into ethanol. Credit: Shekhar Joshi, Michigan Technological University Scientists collaborating through the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) have found that small modifications to a single gene can improve the potential for producing ethanol from poplar trees. Researchers wanted to understand how […]
Longtime Center for Bioenergy Innovation researcher Mike Himmel of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory was recently honored by the Colorado Governor with a Lifetime Achievement Award at an event hosted by CO-LABS
At the University of North Texas, researcher Chunliu Zhuo conducts genotyping and lignin analysis to distinguish transgenic plants from non-transgenic plants. Credit: Chunliu Zhuo/University of North Texas Scientists working with the Center for Bioenergy Innovation are developing a deeper understanding of natural processes that could make biofuel byproducts more useful. Turning biomass into marketable products […]
The Department of Energy has announced funding for new research centers to accelerate the development of specialty plants and processes for a new generation of biofuels and bioproducts. The Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI), led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is one of four bioenergy centers chosen by DOE to advance a new biobased economy […]