South Africa: Eucalyptus genome sequencing for bioenergy

The decoding of Eucalyptus genome to maximize its potential for generating biomass energy and to capture excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere project will be headed by Alexander Myburg of the University of Pretoria in South Africa. This initiative will be supported by the US DOE Joint Genome Institute (DOE-JGI) Community Sequencing Program (CSP). All the information gathered will be made available on the Internet. This effort improves breeding strategies for cellulosic ethanol feedstock and contributes to improvements in productivity for the global forestry industry.