EVOLTREE Online seminar series on "New technologies for evolution & genetics" November 2023 - Prof Wout Boerjan

Programme

• 29/11/2023, 16:30-18:30 CET

  “Genetic engineering of lignin in trees to improve biomass processing"

  Prof Boerjan leads the Bioenergy and Bio-aromatics group at VIB and Ghent University, Belgium. His research seeks to advance the ways in which lignocellulosic plant biomass can serve as a renewable and potentially carbon-neutral raw material for the production of pulp, bioenergy and other bio-based products. The major long-term goal is to engineer plant cell wall composition for a more cost-effective conversion of plant biomass into fermentable sugars or aromatic building blocks, without adversely affecting plant yield. As lignin needs to be depolymerized for both purposes, the group focuses on understanding the biosynthesis, polymerization and structure of lignin. Arabidopsis, maize and poplar are used as a model species for gene discovery. Potential applications are investigated by genetic engineering and CRISPR/Cas9 based gene editing to tailor biomass composition in maize and poplar, and by evaluating the improved biomass traits in field trials. 

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