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Pongamia pinnata: An Untapped Resource for the Biofuels Industry of the Future

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Abstract

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre is a fast-growing leguminous tree with the potential for high oil seed production and the added benefit of the ability to grow on marginal land. These properties support the suitability of this plant for large-scale vegetable oil production required by a sustainable biodiesel industry. The future success of P. pinnata as a sustainable source of feedstock for the biofuels industry is dependent on an extensive knowledge of the genetics, physiology and propagation of this legume. In particular, research should be targeted to maximizing plant growth as it relates to oil biosynthesis. This review assesses and integrates the biological, chemical and genetic attributes of the plant, providing the basis for future research into Pongamia’s role in an emerging industry.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the support of the Australian Research Council, the Queensland State Government Smart State Initiative and The University of Queensland Strategic Fund for continuing funding of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research. Pacific Renewable Energy Pty Ltd is thanked for their partial financial support of CILR Pongamia research. We thank Anfernee Tseng (CSIRO) for running the gel of P. pinnata seed storage proteins and Dr Charles Hocart (ANU) for fatty acid analysis of seed oil.

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  1. ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Paul T. Scott, Lisette Pregelj, Ning Chen, Johanna S. Hadler & Peter M. Gresshoff

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, 0200, Australia

    Michael A. Djordjevic

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  1. Paul T. Scott
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Correspondence to Peter M. Gresshoff.

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Scott, P.T., Pregelj, L., Chen, N. et al. Pongamia pinnata: An Untapped Resource for the Biofuels Industry of the Future. Bioenerg. Res. 1, 2–11 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-008-9003-0

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