Fungus in Invasive Insect's Gut Could Lead to Better Biofuel Production
by Matthew McDermott, Brooklyn, NY on 09. 3.08
photo: Wikipedia
Most of the time I try to post on practical aspects of renewable energy. While it may be changes in policy or a new project, both are still practical. Unless a new piece of research has such a radical potential to change the playing field, or is at least at the demonstration stage, I don’t always write about it. For this one though, I’m breaking pattern. This one’s a long, long way from commercialization, but it’s really pretty interesting.
Unique Strain of Fungus Lives Aids in Breaking Down Wood
Researchers at Penn State University believe that a type of fungus in the Asian longhorned beetle—an invasive species in the United States which threatens many species of hardwood trees— which can break down wood may one day be used in the production of cellulosic biofuels.
Kelli Hoover, an associate professor of entomology at Penn State:
This type of fungus is known to cause disease in plants, but this particular strain appears to be unique. It looks like these insects somehow acquired the fungus to live in their gut and help them break down wood.
Asian Longhorned Beetle’s Fungus More Efficient Than Other Fungi
Hoover points out that this fungus is far more efficient than other free-ranging fungi which can break down wood, which can take months to do so. Hoover’s colleague Scott Geib adds that, “Getting rid of the lignin barrier and making the cellulose more accessible is the most expensive and environmentally unfriendly past of making ethanol from biomass,” and that this discovery could potentially lead to developing more efficient enzymes for converting wood into ethanol.
So, in a nutshell, a fungus in the gut of an invasive insect species which threatens forest ecosystems in the United States could potentially lead to new ways of converting woody biomass into fuel. Somehow, somewhat inexplicably, a smile comes to my face from this one.
The original article in :: Gant Daily has got all the details on the research.
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Inexplicable is right; if you see what this creature does to a forest you'd be as queasy as I am about having it about. Imagine one found in your neighborhood; the USDA comes in and cuts down every tree for a mile around. No lie, ask the folks in Long Island, or Chicago, or now Worcester MA. Scary!
HG
Don't worry, I'm aware of what this beetle can do. My smile results more from the strangeness of it all--an invasive species causing wide-ranging ecological damage could provide a clue as to how to better produce cellulosic ethanol--rather than anything else.
My only concern is the source of the woody biomass. Where would it be coming from? With all the concerns regarding deforestation, rising CO2 levels, etc., looking to wood as a source of biofuel is inefficient and counterproductive to the purposes of creating biofuels in the first place.