High energy biofuel from endophytic fungi?
A paper entitled 'The production of myco-diesel hydrocarbons and their derivatives by the endophytic fungus Gliocladium roseum (NRRL 50072)' (Strobel et al., Microbiology 154, 3319-3328, 2008) demonstrated for the first time that a fungal endophyte can produce volatile hydrocarbons, which are major constituents of diesel fuel. The possible implications of this finding with regards to potential commercial applications and the ecological role of volatiles in endophyte-host relationships are discussed.
Stadler
Marc
M
Department of Mycology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, Germany. marc.stadler@t-online.de
Schulz
Barbara
B
D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D048690:Fruiting Bodies, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D020462:Gliocladium / Q000254:growth & development
D002482:Cellulose