Castor plant (Ricinus communis L.) produces a unique seed oil with numerous industrial applications. However, castor seed contains toxin ricin and hyper-allergenic 2S albumins detrimental to castor grower and processor. Our project goal is to develop a safe source of castor oil through genetic engineering. The general approach is to generate a safe castor crop by blocking expression of the rici...

Introduction Biodiesel producers have long recognized the need for new sources of oil feedstock if biodiesel is to continue displacing petroleum-based diesel fuel. One potential source of oil that could minimize competition with food crops is microbial oil, with photosynthetic algae being the most widely studied option. An understanding of algal lipids, their native biochemistry and interaction...

An experimental steam distillation unit has been designed, built, and tested for the extraction of essential oils from peppermint and spearmint. The unit, using a 130-gal (510-liter) distillation tank, is intermediate in size between laboratoryscale extractors and commercial-sized distilleries, yet provides oil in sufficient quantity for industrial evaluation. The entire apparatus-a dieselfuel-...

MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (A.S., J.Z., K.Y., Y.T., Y.W., X.W., Y.L.); Institute of Oil Crops Research, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China (A.S.); and Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Ha...

MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China (A.S., J.Z., K.Y., Y.T., Y.W., X.W., Y.L.); Institute of Oil Crops Research, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China (A.S.); and Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Ha...

Biodegradable plastics, mainly polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), which are traditionally produced by bacterial cells, have been produced in the cells of more than 15 plant species. Since the production of biodegradable plastics and the synthesis of oil in plants share the same substrate, acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), producing PHB in oil bearing crops, such as oil palm, will be advantageous. In this...

Cost and limited reserves of conventional fossil fuels have intensified the search for alternative fuels for use in internal combustion engines. A possible alternative engine fuel is vegetable oil because it is a clean burning, renewable, non-toxic, biodegradable and environmentally friendly transportation fuel. It can be used in a neat form without any modification of the engine. Vegetable oil...