Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
27
Paulownia
Nirmal Joshee
Fort Valley State University
contents
27.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 671
27.2 History of Paulownia in the Orient and the United States ................................................. 672
27.3 Botany and Distribution ...................................................................................................... 673
27.3.1 Reproduction and Early Growth ........................................................................... 674
27.3.1.1 Flowering and Fruiting ......................................................................... 674
27.3.1.2 Seed Production and Dissemination ..................................................... 674
27.3.1.3 Seedling Development .......................................................................... 676
27.3.1.4 Vegetative Reproduction ....................................................................... 676
27.3.2 Plant Production .................................................................................................. 676
27.3.2.1 Root Cuttings ........................................................................................ 676
27.3.2.2 Propagation by Seeds ............................................................................ 676
27.3.3 Physical Properties of Paulownia Wood ............................................................... 676
27.3.4 Diseases of Paulownia .......................................................................................... 677
27.4 Development of High-Yielding Paulownia Farms .............................................................. 677
27.5 A Tree for Lignocellulosic Ethanol ................................................................................... 678
27.5.1 Biomass Production and Molecular Biology of Cellulose .................................... 678
27.5.2 Sustainable Agriculture and Energy Crops .......................................................... 679
27.5.3 Biomass Production Potential of Paulownia......................................................... 679
27.5.4 Lignocellulosic Biofuel and Paulownia ............................................................... 679
27.5.5 Economic Justification .......................................................................................... 680
27.6 Paulownia Biotechnology ................................................................................................... 680
27.6.1 Tissue Culture ....................................................................................................... 681
27.6.1.1 Organogenesis ....................................................................................... 681
27.6.1.2 Somatic Embryogenesis ........................................................................ 681
27.6.2 Genetic Transformation ........................................................................................ 683
27.7 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 684
Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... 684
References ...................................................................................................................................... 684
27.1 IntroductIon
Rising energy prices and environmental problems have led to increased interest in alcohol as a
fuel. Using corn, a human food resource, for ethanol production raises major ethical and moral
issues. Today, malnourished people in the world number approximately 3 billion (WHO 2000). The
current food shortages throughout the world call attention to the importance of using U.S. exports
of corn and other grains for human food and search for alternative sources for biofuel production.
For the production of cellulosic ethanol, residue including postharvest corn plants (stover) and
timber residues could be used. There is a growing awareness among farmers to establish and use
specialized high-biomass “energy crops” such as domesticated poplar trees, switchgrass, bamboo,
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