Scientists discover plant that produces diesel-like substance

[ColbertWatcher]

found on fark

The fungus, called Gliocladium roseum and discovered growing inside the ulmo tree (Eucryphia cordifolia) in northern Patagonia, produces a range of long-chain hydrocarbon molecules that are virtually identical to the fuel-grade compounds in existing fossil fuels.

Details of the concoction, which Strobel calls "mycodiesel", will be published in the November issue of the journal Microbiology. "The results were totally unexpected and very exciting and almost every hair on my arms stood on end," said Strobel.

Many simple organisms, such as algae, are already known to make chemicals that are similar to the long-chain hydrocarbons present in transport fuel but, according to Strobel, none produce the explosive hydrocarbons with the high energy density of those in mycodiesel. Strobel said that the chemical mixture produced by his fungus could be used in a modern diesel engine without any modification.

Another advantage of the G. roseum fungus is its ability to eat up cellulose. This is a compound that, along with lignin, makes up the cell walls in plants and is indigestible by most animals. As such, it makes up much of the organic waste currently discarded, such as stalks and sawdust.

(more)
--Guardian

[nebenaube]

1. this is cool...

and if it will grow on hemp than that would solve many, many problems...

[cvoogt]

2. won't stop global warming

It could reduce dependence on oil, but it's still a hydrocarbon and when burned will release the same gases into the atmosphere.
A stop-gap solution, sure, but I would be worried that it would be seen by the auto industry especially as a cure-all and excuse not to push for more fuel efficiency / hybrids.

[ColbertWatcher]

4. "A stop-gap solution" Agreed.

Considering that I'm sure by the time we hear about it in the media, oil companies probably bought all the plants in the world and Monsanto has destroyed all the seeds.

[malaise]

3. Wow

K & R

[chiefofclarinet]

5. Plant?!

A fungus is NOT a plant! Fungi are actually closely related to animals than plants, especially biochemically. (I'm a biochemist; I get riled up with simple mistakes like this.)

Still, this is an interesting development.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. I realized that after the editing period passed! Sorry. n/t

[Odin2005]

8. A bit off topic, but it is a pet peeve of mine when people wrong call fungi "plants"

I'm a Bio-Chem major so we are in the same boat!

Animals and Fungi are closely related and share many features of biochemistry and cell structure not found in other organisms with cell nuclei. The most obvious, and the one that gives the group it's name, "Opistokonta," is cells having a single, backward-pointing flagellum (most protozoans with flagella have them in front), a trait preserved in the sperm cells of animals and the most primitive fungi, as well as in the most primitive living members of the group, the Choanoflagellates, protozoans that look identical to the filter-feeding cells of sponges. Another trait is the polymer Chitin, the stuff that makes insects hard and crunchy. There are many group of fungi look-a-likes that were once thought to be fungi but are now known to be algae of the Kingdom Chromista (kelps, diatoms, etc.) that lost the ability to photosynthesize and took up a fungus-like lifestyle.

[Deja Q]

6. Wow, and I thought only marijuana could be smoked! Yeaaah man, this is great!

I've got the munchies. Is that a hamburger I see down the road?



:smoke: