Czech and Korean researchers clinch biomass patent A Czech-South Korean research team has obtained a patent on a new method supporting plant biomass production which will also allow the cultivation of plants with a bigger biomass production. Both the food-processing and pharmaceutical industries can, in theory, use the patent,... A Czech-South Korean research team has obtained a patent on a new method supporting plant biomass production which will also allow the cultivation of plants with a bigger biomass production. Both the food-processing and pharmaceutical industries can, in theory, use the patent, according to the team. 'The invention, which enables the cultivation of plants with an increased production of mass, presents the results of fundamental research activities,' Dr Eva Janouskovcova from Technology Transfer Office of Masaryk University told CORDIS News. 'Such an increase may be an advantage for the food or pharmacy industry,' she said. 'No less important is the production of energetic plants, such as the sorrel of Uteush. Even more applications can be found in biotechnology for the decontamination of affected soil by phytoremediation.' The Czech researchers from the University's Institute of Experimental Biology determined that proteins and plant hormones play a key role in the division of plant stem cells, which can also be used with genetic engineering supporting methods. 'We have uncovered that a genetic intervention causing the regulation of these proteins' activities can modify plant growing,' project leader Dr Jan Hejatko explained. 'The activity of these proteins is important for the development and regulation of the cell division of the stem cells of plants, which enable growth, and hence the formation of biomass in plants,' he said in a statement. 'These findings open up further possibilities in the regulation of plant growth through genetic engineering methods.' For their part, researchers at Masaryk University conducted experiments proving that interactions between the effects of auxin (the plant hormone that promotes root formation and bud growth) and cytokinin (the plant hormone that promotes cell division and delays the senescence of leaves) exist. According to Dr Janouskovcova, cytokinins influence the flow of auxin in plants, effectively shaping the look of the new organs. Biomass, a renewable energy, refers to living and recently dead biological material (i.e. plant materials and animal waste) that can be used as fuel. Biomass is part of the carbon cycle, and carbon from the atmosphere is converted into biological matter by photosynthesis. However, even though biomass is a renewable fuel, also referred to as 'carbon neutral fuel', experts say its use can contribute to global warming. Disruption of the natural carbon cycle, triggered by human activity like the urbanisation of green sites is the problem. The use of biomass as a fuel still puts the same amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But the experts say that when biomass is used for the generation of power, it is considered carbon neutral or it can curb greenhouse gasses because of the counterbalance of the methane that would have entered the atmosphere. The EU promotes the use of biomass as a fuel, thus reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Biomass used in the generation of power has been increasing each year. For its part, the Czech government has green-lighted an action plan supporting biomass for the period 2009 to 2011. Countries Czechia, South Korea
