Transgenic plants containing ligninase and cellulase which degrade lignin and cellulose to fermentable sugars

This patent discloses transgenic plants and a method of producing such plants which degrade lignins and celluloses into fermentable sugars. The plants comprise ligninase and cellulase genes isolated from Acidothermus cellulolyticus, Thermomonospora fusca etc. The process includes, A) providing a first and second transgenic plant which includes a DNA encoding a cellulose and ligninase respectively operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal peptide and B) mating by sexual fertilization the first and the second transgenic plants to produce a third transgenic plant which includes both the first and second DNA encoding the cellulase and ligninase, wherein the transgenic plant degrades the lignocellulose when ground to produce the plant material.