Radiation capture and conversion efficiencies of Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Miscanthus sinensis and their naturally occurring hybrid Miscanthus x giganteus

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Davey, C. L., Jones, L. E., Squance, M., Purdy, S. J., Maddison, A. L., Cunniff, J., Donnison, I. S. and Clifton-Brown, J. 2017. Radiation capture and conversion efficiencies of Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Miscanthus sinensis and their naturally occurring hybrid Miscanthus x giganteus. Global Change Biology. Bioenergy. 9 (2), pp. 385-399. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12331

AuthorsDavey, C. L., Jones, L. E., Squance, M., Purdy, S. J., Maddison, A. L., Cunniff, J., Donnison, I. S. and Clifton-Brown, J.
Abstract

Miscanthus is a rhizomatous C4 grass of great interest as a biofuel crop because it has the potential to produce high yields over a wide geographical area with low agricultural inputs on marginal land less suitable for food production. At the moment, a clonal interspecific hybrid Miscanthusxgiganteus is the most widely cultivated and studied in Europe and the United States, but breeding programmes are developing newer more productive varieties. Here, we quantified the physiological processes relating to whole season yield in a replicated plot trial in Wales, UK. Light capture and conversion efficiency were parameterized for four carefully selected genotypes (M.sinensis, M.sacchariflorus and Miscanthusxgiganteus). Differences in the canopy architecture in mature stands as measured by the extinction coefficient (k) were small (0.55-0.65). Sensitivity analysis on a mathematical model of Miscanthus was performed to quantify the accumulative intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (iPAR) in the growing season using (i) k, (ii) variation in the thermal responses of leaf expansion rate, (iii) base temperature for degree days and (iv) date start of canopy expansion. A 10% increase in k or leaf area per degree day both had a minimal effect on iPAR (3%). Decreasing base temperature from 10 to 9 degrees C gave an 8% increase in iPAR. If the starting date for canopy expansion was the same as shoot emergence date, then the iPAR increases by 12.5%. In M.xgiganteus, the whole season above ground and total (including below ground) radiation-use efficiency (RUE) ranged from 45% to 37% higher than the noninterspecific hybrid genotypes. The greater yields in the interspecific hybrid M.xgiganteus are explained by the higher RUE and not by differences in iPAR or partitioning effects. Studying the mechanisms underlying this complex trait could have wide benefits for both fuel and food production.

KeywordsAgronomy; Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; Energy & Fuels
Year of Publication2017
JournalGlobal Change Biology. Bioenergy
Journal citation9 (2), pp. 385-399
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12331
PubMed ID28261330
PubMed Central IDPMC5310369
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderCeres Inc
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Publisher's version
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online31 Dec 2015
ISSN17571693
PublisherWiley
Grant IDBB/G016216/1
BBS/E/W/00003134
Copyright licenseCC BY

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