Scientists at Brookhaven National Labs have identified bacteria that can boost the growth of poplars on marginal land. That's good news for Zeachem, the startup that wants to produce cellulosic ethanol from the trees. Zeachem says it will be able to squeeze 135 gallons from a bone dry ton of plant matter with its "acetic adid-to-fuel" process. That's unusually high, and one of the main reasons to keep an eye on this company. The scientists, along with colleagues from Belgium's Hasselt University (mascot: The Golden Spuds), identified 78 different bacteria ordinarily found in the roots of poplars and willows and then tested them on various trees in greenhouse conditions. Some bacteria inhibited growth, others had no effect, but others actually made the trees grow faster. "In particular, poplar cuttings inoculated with Enterobacter sp. 638 and Burkholderia cepacia BU72 repeatedly showed the highest increase in biomass production — up to 50 percent — as compared with non-inoculated control plants," the lab said. Good Show, Burholderia! The group is now sequencing the genes to determine how the metabolic turbocharger kicks in. The research grew out of earlier experiments to use poplars to clean up toxic-waste sites. Producing ethanol from poplars on marginal land, of course, also helps reduce any potential food versus fuel conflicts.