Abstract
All Southeastern Asian countries are facing a shortage of available land for tree plantation. The increased demand for trees that would result from the establishment of a sizeable tree-based bioethanol industry in Southeast Asia would require 1) the development and use of fast-growing tree species as feedstock and 2) more efficient use of existing plantations. One of the tasks of modern plant science is to identify and confirm the plant species whose cell walls are susceptible to complete saccharification. Their lingo-cellulose must be easily degradable into monosaccharides, though, in a particular species that meets the other requirements, we may be able to enhance this quality through genetic engineering, now that the structure and function of wall components are beginning to be understood.
Recalcitrance to saccharification is a major limiting factor of the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol. An increase in the sacharification was tested in the xylems of sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria) and mangium (Acacia mangium) by the genetic reduction of xyloglucan.
