The focus of the research is on improving drought and salt tolerance of short-rotation poplar as this plant has become widely accepted as a potential source of biomass for use in renewable energy.
Woody biomass is becoming an alternative to fossil fuels as it produces fewer emissions, contributes to local economies, mitigates global climate change, and can increase national energy security. Poplar is also expected to become an important source for liquid biofuels as cellulose-to-ethanol technologies mature over the next few years.
The adaptation of poplars to grow in environmentally stressful conditions will enable growth of these trees on marginal lands, which are unusable for food or feedstuff, for large-scale production.
Stanley Hirsch, chief executive of FuturaGene, said: “Poplar is now widely accepted as a fast growth short rotation crop which is carbon neutral and can be used for energy production by combustion. The project, which complements others we have around the world, aims to develop the tree for large scale planting on land which is unsuitable for food or feedstuff production, frequently because of drought or saline levels.”
