Embrapa Agroenergia, the arm of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) that researches ways of reusing biomass and residues, developed a sugarcane with genetic manipulations that allow greater use for the production of ethanol, among other benefits, without , however, to be a transgenic plant.
This, according to Embrapa, makes the product the first non-transgenic edited sugarcane in the world.
To reach the result, the team used a research-based technique of genomic editing that won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna.
The technology studied by them uses an enzyme (Cas9) that makes it possible to cut the DNA at specific points, modifying only specific regions.
“The controversy generated about the use of transgenic plants in agriculture led each country in the world to create specific regulations on the subject, which raised the cost of placing genetically modified varieties on the market”, says the researcher from Embrapa Hugo Molinari.
“Today, we see a new technology emerging, the editing of genomes, with which it is not necessary to introduce exogenous sequences from other species into the genome of the target species.”
Embrapa’s work developed two new plants, called Cana Flex I and Flex II, which, with the changes, facilitate the access of enzymes to sugars trapped in cells, which is where the energy is stored. This facilitates the manufacture of ethanol and also the extraction of other bioproducts.
In Cana Flex I, the gene responsible for the rigidity of the plant cell wall was silenced, which increased the “digestibility”, that is, it allowed this greater access of enzymes during the stage in which plant biomass is extracted.
In turn, Cana Flex II was generated through the silencing of a gene in the plant’s tissues, which allowed “a considerable increase” in the production of sucrose.
As, in both, only this “silencing” was carried out, which is the cancellation of the action of the genes in question, without, on the other hand, having any modification in the plant’s DNA, the National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio) classified the new varieties such as non-transgenic.
According to Embrapa, in Flex II, an increase in the order of 200% of sugar in the cane leaves was observed, in addition to a 15% increase in sucrose in the stem.
This, explained Molinari, increases efficiency in the production of bioethanol, in addition to generating bagasse with greater digestibility in animal feed, such as cattle.
Reference: CNN Brasil
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
