Diesel fuel to grow on trees?

Dr Gary Strobel a Professor of Plant Sciences at the Montana State University is leading a group of researchers that have discovered a fungus that naturally produces a fuel suitable for use in car engines.

The fungus was discovered on the ulmo tree in Patagonia. Dr Strobel is investigating how it produces a hydrocarbon gas that potentially could be used in diesel engines. The gas mixture produced has compounds that would be adequate enough to run an engine; he reports that there is no other known organism on the planet that could do this.

Scientists hope that the discovery could help with quicker production of bio-fuel without the need to resort to using land that would usually be used to produce food.