Enabling technologies for utilization of maize as a bioenergy feedstock

• DOI: 10.1002/bbb.2060
• Publication Date: 2019-11-21T13:24:57Z
• Authors: Mukesh Choudhary; Alla Singh; Mamta Gupta; Sujay Rakshit
• Keywords: Biorefining; Lignocellulosic Biomass; Energy crop

Abstract Limited supplies of fossil fuels have led to a search for alternative sources fuel drive economic growth. Maize, and especially the grain portion, has been utilized large extent biofuel production while abundant lignocellulosic portion remained underexplored owing its recalcitrant nature. The diversion bioethanol consequences food security. However, can easily be directed ethanol without any Maize emerged as leading crop in last decade hence provides vast amount biomass. Biomass quantity digestibility are two key traits efficient production. Significant variation reported these maize. brown midrib mutants ( bm ) maize, with reduced lignin content, exploited development cultivars better digestibility. Recent advances genetics genomics revealed genomic regions associated biomass‐contributing traits. molecular markers identified marker‐aided high biomass Advances phenomics also facilitated bioethanol‐targeted breeding Biorefining uses feedstock input processes it into biofuel. In this review, improvement maize biological conversion strategies assessed. Research platforms enable improvements processing discussed. © 2019 Society Chemical Industry John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.