TRANSGENIC TOBACCO PLANTS FOR ENHANCED BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION

摘要

Genetically modified tobacco plants are provided having altered hexose accumulation. Methods are provided for producing ethanol from fermentation of tobacco biomass derived from the tobacco plants having altered hexose accumulation. The altered hexose accumulation can be an increase in total hexose content or an increase in hexose content in the phloem or the roots/shoots as compared to non- genetically modified tobacco plants. Expression vectors are provided for tobacco plant transformation having a gene encoding a sucrose invertase inhibitor operably linked to a promoter, such that expression of the inhibitor in the plant can increase and/or alter hexose accumulation in the plant. The genetically modified tobacco plants having altered hexose accumulation can further contain a transgenic construct to confer resistance to a glyphosate herbicide or a phosphinothricin (PPT) herbicide.