Hidden Powers of Lignin in Plant Growth Explored

Aug 09, 2023

Clint Chapple and his team from Purdue University studied lignin, a basic plant fiber. Lignin is usually seen as just a structural component, but recent experiments suggest it might affect plant growth more than we thought.

Primarily recognized for its role in industries like pulp and paper, Chapple's team has been exploring lignin's potential in biofuels. Their research, focused on the experimental plant Arabidopsis thaliana, took an unexpected turn when certain manipulations led to diminutive plants.

This led Fabiola Muro-Villanueva to investigate further. Her rigorous experiments pointed to pinoresinol, a compound previously believed to only serve as a lignin building block, as a potential growth influencer.

This groundbreaking discovery suggests that pinoresinol, along with other compounds like coniferyl alcohol, plays a pivotal role in plant development, especially in roots. It opens doors to a more comprehensive understanding of plants, particularly when considering modified plants for biofuel production.

Chapple highlighted the pressing need for this depth of knowledge to ensure any newly developed plant species thrive in the wild.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, this research offers an enlightening perspective on the myriad capabilities of plants.

Video: Canada reaches tariff deal with China on canola, electric vehicles

Canada has reached a deal with China to increase the limit of imports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) in exchange for Beijing dropping tariffs on agricultural products, such as canola, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday.

The tariffs on canola are dropping to 15 per cent starting on March 1. In exchange for dropping duties on agricultural products, Carney is allowing 49,000 Chinese EVs to be exported to Canada.

Carney described it as a “preliminary but landmark” agreement to remove trade barriers and reduce tariffs, part of a broader strategic partnership with China.