Importance of suberin biopolymer in plant function, contributions to soil organic carbon and in the production of bio-derived energy and materials

Suberin is a hydrophobic biopolymer of significance in the production of biomass-derived materials and in biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we describe suberin structure and biosynthesis, and its importance in biological (i.e., plant bark and roots), ecological (soil organic carbon) and economic (biomass conversion to bioproducts) contexts. Furthermore, we highlight the genomics and analytical approaches currently available and explore opportunities for future technologies to study suberin in quantitative and/or high-throughput platforms in bioenergy crops. A greater understanding of suberin structure and production in lignocellulosic biomass can be leveraged to improve representation in life cycle analysis and techno-economic analysis models and enable performance improvements in plant biosystems as well as informed crop system management to achieve economic and environmental co-benefits.

Automated summary

Suberin is a hydrophobic biopolymer with significant importance in the production of biomass-derived materials and in biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding suberin structure and production in lignocellulosic biomass can lead to improvements in life cycle analysis and techno-economic analysis models, as well as advancements in plant biosystems performance and informed crop system management for economic and environmental benefits. The genomics and analytical approaches available currently, along with future technologies, provide opportunities to study suberin in bioenergy crops on quantitative and high-throughput platforms.