For a long period the Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics in CEITEC has been involved in the study of plant hormones, called cytokinins, which regulate plant growth and so the formation of biomass. "We have discovered and described one of the mechanisms through which cytokinins regulate the growth and related production of lignin – a natural polymer, which acts as a strengthening material of cell walls in plants,” Jan Hejátko and Vojtěch Didi explained the basis of the patent. Vojtěch Didi is the first author of a publication on the basic research, which is being prepared and which the patent originates from.
Lignin and lignocellulose in general is one of the promising renewable raw materials of the chemical industry. For example it is used for the production of ship fuel or vanillin, which is a worldwide most used aroma and flavouring agent, products from lignin may be also used as an additive to construction materials. Lignin is the second most widespread polymer in the world after cellulose. “We have found out how to increase the production of lignin in plants by means of plant hormones,” the biologist said and added that for example with the utilisation of wood as a fuel the amount of lignin is a key factor and co-determines its heating value.
The patented method is based on the fact that the perception of plant growth hormones or their biosynthesis directly are “turned off” in woody plants, which causes the increase in the production of lignin. The research team was successful also thanks to the cooperation with biologists specializing on cell walls of plants from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Experts from CEITEC are cooperating with them within the CYTOWALL project, which received funds from the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period of 2009-2014 and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports within the Decision of MEYS 23681/2015-1.
"We have managed to explain the principle that works in plants and have suggested a method how to increase the production of lignin. Now we are looking for a partner who can bring this procedure into practice and would cultivate selected varieties of woody plants in cooperation with us and would bring them to the customers,” said Hejátko and added that they cooperated with the Technology Transfer Office of Masaryk University on the patenting of the product.
For example it could be used with poplar trees which belong to one of the fastest growing woody plants with soft wood in the Czech Republic. Also in Norway there has been a factory built recently which deals with the production and processing of lignin and is successful in distributing products made from it all over the world.
