Analysis of 180 accessions of Miscanthus using a DArT platform revealed high diversity. The phylo... more Analysis of 180 accessions of Miscanthus using a DArT platform revealed high diversity. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. × giganteus accessions fall into two genetically distinct groups. Miscanthus is a genus of perennial rhizomatous grasses that has emerged in last 20 years as a feedstock for bioenergy and biofuel production. Currently, the most widely used accession for bioenergy purposes is Miscanthus × giganteus, a sterile triploid hybrid between Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus. However, previous reports have shown that genetic diversity of Miscanthus × giganteus is limited. Here, we report development of Diversity Arrays Technology platform for the analysis of genetic structure of a Miscanthus collection of 180 accessions. A total of 906 markers were obtained of which around 25.5 % exhibited polymorphism information content value in the range of 0.40 and 0.50 and are considered particularly informative. Newly developed marker system will serve as an additional resource to assist crop improvement, germplasm preservation and genetic studies. Three types of analysis indicated that 180 accessions from the collection were well differentiated and presented high diversity. Interestingly, the analysis revealed that there are two separate groups of plants, significantly differing in genetic diversity, that are commercially available as M. × giganteus. We suggest that one of these groups is most likely mutants or somaclonal variants of original M. × giganteus. The other group is recent hybrids of Miscanthus of higher genetic diversity. This study indicates that the diversity of commercially available M. × giganteus is higher than commonly assumed. Development of the new marker system can significantly assist breeding of new commercial cultivars of Miscanthus for bioenergy use.
Miscanthus is a C4 perennial rhizomatous grass originating from Eastern Asia that has become a le... more Miscanthus is a C4 perennial rhizomatous grass originating from Eastern Asia that has become a leading candidate crop for production of a lignocellulosic feedstock for a biobased economy in Europe. Research over the past 20 years has shown that a few key species and their interspecific hybrids have a high yield potential for bioenergy as well as other biomass-derived products requiring low inputs. At present the production of miscanthus is dominated by one genotype, Miscanthus x giganteus. The main objective of the OPTIMISC project is to broaden the genetic base for miscanthus. For this purpose promising germplasm from M. sacchariflorus, M. sinensis and M. x giganteus and cross-breeds thereof have been selected and will be tested for their tolerance and suitability to adverse soil and climatic conditions and for the suitability of the biomass to provide feedstock for energetic use or higher quality products. Major activities within OPTIMSC are the screening of traits for salinity, d...
Microalgae abundance and diversity in China shows promise for identifying suitable strains for de... more Microalgae abundance and diversity in China shows promise for identifying suitable strains for developing algal biorefinery. Numerous strains of microalgae have already been assessed as feedstocks for bioethanol and biodiesel production, but commercial scale algal biofuel production is yet to be demonstrated, most likely due to huge energy costs associated with algae cultivation, harvesting and processing. Biorefining, integrated processes for the conversion of biomass into a variety of products, can improve the prospects of microalgal biofuels by combining them with the production of high value co-products. Numerous microalgal strains in China have been identified as producers of various high value by-products with wide application in the medicine, food, and cosmetics industries. This paper reviews microalgae resources in China and their potential in producing liquid biofuels (bioethanol and biodiesel) and high value products in an integrated biorefinery approach. Implementation of...
Analysis of 180 accessions of Miscanthus using a DArT platform revealed high diversity. The phylo... more Analysis of 180 accessions of Miscanthus using a DArT platform revealed high diversity. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. × giganteus accessions fall into two genetically distinct groups. Miscanthus is a genus of perennial rhizomatous grasses that has emerged in last 20 years as a feedstock for bioenergy and biofuel production. Currently, the most widely used accession for bioenergy purposes is Miscanthus × giganteus, a sterile triploid hybrid between Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus. However, previous reports have shown that genetic diversity of Miscanthus × giganteus is limited. Here, we report development of Diversity Arrays Technology platform for the analysis of genetic structure of a Miscanthus collection of 180 accessions. A total of 906 markers were obtained of which around 25.5 % exhibited polymorphism information content value in the range of 0.40 and 0.50 and are considered particularly informative. Newly developed marker system will serve as an additional resource to assist crop improvement, germplasm preservation and genetic studies. Three types of analysis indicated that 180 accessions from the collection were well differentiated and presented high diversity. Interestingly, the analysis revealed that there are two separate groups of plants, significantly differing in genetic diversity, that are commercially available as M. × giganteus. We suggest that one of these groups is most likely mutants or somaclonal variants of original M. × giganteus. The other group is recent hybrids of Miscanthus of higher genetic diversity. This study indicates that the diversity of commercially available M. × giganteus is higher than commonly assumed. Development of the new marker system can significantly assist breeding of new commercial cultivars of Miscanthus for bioenergy use.
Miscanthus is a C4 perennial rhizomatous grass originating from Eastern Asia that has become a le... more Miscanthus is a C4 perennial rhizomatous grass originating from Eastern Asia that has become a leading candidate crop for production of a lignocellulosic feedstock for a biobased economy in Europe. Research over the past 20 years has shown that a few key species and their interspecific hybrids have a high yield potential for bioenergy as well as other biomass-derived products requiring low inputs. At present the production of miscanthus is dominated by one genotype, Miscanthus x giganteus. The main objective of the OPTIMISC project is to broaden the genetic base for miscanthus. For this purpose promising germplasm from M. sacchariflorus, M. sinensis and M. x giganteus and cross-breeds thereof have been selected and will be tested for their tolerance and suitability to adverse soil and climatic conditions and for the suitability of the biomass to provide feedstock for energetic use or higher quality products. Major activities within OPTIMSC are the screening of traits for salinity, d...
Microalgae abundance and diversity in China shows promise for identifying suitable strains for de... more Microalgae abundance and diversity in China shows promise for identifying suitable strains for developing algal biorefinery. Numerous strains of microalgae have already been assessed as feedstocks for bioethanol and biodiesel production, but commercial scale algal biofuel production is yet to be demonstrated, most likely due to huge energy costs associated with algae cultivation, harvesting and processing. Biorefining, integrated processes for the conversion of biomass into a variety of products, can improve the prospects of microalgal biofuels by combining them with the production of high value co-products. Numerous microalgal strains in China have been identified as producers of various high value by-products with wide application in the medicine, food, and cosmetics industries. This paper reviews microalgae resources in China and their potential in producing liquid biofuels (bioethanol and biodiesel) and high value products in an integrated biorefinery approach. Implementation of...
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