World’s first transgenic sweet sorghum

Australian researchers have developed a novel technique to genetically modified sorghum, a promising biofuel crop that can grow on marginal lands with minimal water.

University of Queensland: http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.html?article=20025

What is  not made clear in the media release is that UQ has developed a novel technique to easily allow plant breeders to create transgenic sorghum.  They have not produced transgenic sorghum with any particular trait.  A technique to create transgenic sorghum has proved troublesome for plant breeders until now.  Because of its drought tolerance and ability to grow in marginal lands, one potential application is to alter the plant to enhance traits useful in the production of biofuels, though industry might be interested in any number of traits.

Jason Major

GNTIS