May 5 : Michigan State University researchers claim to have developed a new variety of corn that promises to make ethanol production for running cars, more cost-effective and efficient.

Presently, most US ethanol is made from corn kernels, as breaking down the cellulose in corn leaves and stalks into sugars that can be fermented into ethanol is difficult and expensive.

But with the Spartan corn it is possible to turn corn leaves and stalks into ethanol.

“We’ve developed two generations of Spartan Corn. Both corn varieties contain the enzymes necessary to break down cellulose and hemicellulose into simple sugars in their leaves. This will allow for more cost-effective, efficient production of ethanol,” said Mariam Sticklen, MSU professor of crop and soil sciences.

“In the future, corn growers will be able to sell their corn stalks and leaves as well as their corn grain for ethanol production. What is now a waste product will become an economically viable commodity,” he said.

Prof. Sticklen will co-chair a panel on energy crops for biofuels today at BIO2007, the annual international convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, where he will present his findings. (ANI)