Study of energy crops shows miscanthus twice as productive as switchgrass
At the annual meeting of the American Society of Plant Biologists in Chicago (July 7-11, 2007), scientists will present findings on how to economically and efficiently produce plant crops suitable for sustainable bioenergy. Improving the production of such biomass is important because it should significantly ease and eventually replace dependence on petroleum-based fuels.
Converting biomass into biofuels can be costly and slow. Two crops, both classified as C4 perennial grasses, have been studied extensively to determine how best to improve costs and production rates. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), native to the North American prairies, has been trialed across the United States. Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), a tropical grass originating from Africa and South Asia, has been studied extensively throughout the European Union. Both show great promise, but until now, nobody has been sure which crop is more efficacious.
A new study completed by Frank Dohleman of the Plant Biology Department at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his colleagues, is the first to compare the productivity of the two grasses in side-by-side field trials (picture, click to enlarge). Results from field trials throughout Illinois show that Miscanthus is more than twice as productive as switchgrass.
Dohleman's team, which included Dafu Wang, Andrew D.B. Leakey & Stephen P. Long also of University of Illinois, along with Emily A. Heaton of Ceres Inc., theorized that Miscanthus produces more usable biomass than switchgrass because of these three key attributes:
biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: cellulose :: biomass :: bioenergy :: energy crops :: switchgrass :: miscanthus ::
Integrated measurements also showed that the Miscanthus leaf area was 45% greater than switchgrass and that Miscanthus plants grew an average of eleven days longer than switchgrass. This extended growing season and accompanying lower temperatures proved to further boost the photosynthetic activity of Miscanthus. Specifically, pyruvate Pi dikinase was found to be expressed at higher rates when ambient temperatures are lower. This enzyme supports C4 photosynthesis in Miscanthus.
Unraveling the mystery of why Miscanthus is the more productive crop will enable researchers to engineer this and other potential bioenergy crops. These developments will increase production options as well as support efforts within biofuel research and industry to work with non-food based biomass resources.
Picture: Original experimental Miscanthus and Switchgrass fields in Urbana. Photo courtesy: Andrew Leakey, 2006.
References:
Miscanthus Research at the University of Illinois
Pictures of the Miscanthus research at the University of Illinois.
Eurekalert: Illinois-based study of energy crops finds miscanthus more productive than switchgrass - July 10, 2007.
Biopact: West-Africa launches 'African Miscanthus Plantations' project - April 01, 2007
Biopact: UK scientists hunt for biomass grass types in Asia - March 13, 2007
Converting biomass into biofuels can be costly and slow. Two crops, both classified as C4 perennial grasses, have been studied extensively to determine how best to improve costs and production rates. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), native to the North American prairies, has been trialed across the United States. Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), a tropical grass originating from Africa and South Asia, has been studied extensively throughout the European Union. Both show great promise, but until now, nobody has been sure which crop is more efficacious.
A new study completed by Frank Dohleman of the Plant Biology Department at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his colleagues, is the first to compare the productivity of the two grasses in side-by-side field trials (picture, click to enlarge). Results from field trials throughout Illinois show that Miscanthus is more than twice as productive as switchgrass.
Dohleman's team, which included Dafu Wang, Andrew D.B. Leakey & Stephen P. Long also of University of Illinois, along with Emily A. Heaton of Ceres Inc., theorized that Miscanthus produces more usable biomass than switchgrass because of these three key attributes:
- Miscanthus can gain greater amounts of photosynthetic carbon per unit of leaf area
- Miscanthus has a greater leaf area
- Miscanthus has a longer growing season
biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: cellulose :: biomass :: bioenergy :: energy crops :: switchgrass :: miscanthus ::
Integrated measurements also showed that the Miscanthus leaf area was 45% greater than switchgrass and that Miscanthus plants grew an average of eleven days longer than switchgrass. This extended growing season and accompanying lower temperatures proved to further boost the photosynthetic activity of Miscanthus. Specifically, pyruvate Pi dikinase was found to be expressed at higher rates when ambient temperatures are lower. This enzyme supports C4 photosynthesis in Miscanthus.
Unraveling the mystery of why Miscanthus is the more productive crop will enable researchers to engineer this and other potential bioenergy crops. These developments will increase production options as well as support efforts within biofuel research and industry to work with non-food based biomass resources.
Picture: Original experimental Miscanthus and Switchgrass fields in Urbana. Photo courtesy: Andrew Leakey, 2006.
References:
Miscanthus Research at the University of Illinois
Pictures of the Miscanthus research at the University of Illinois.
Eurekalert: Illinois-based study of energy crops finds miscanthus more productive than switchgrass - July 10, 2007.
Biopact: West-Africa launches 'African Miscanthus Plantations' project - April 01, 2007
Biopact: UK scientists hunt for biomass grass types in Asia - March 13, 2007
1 Comments:
The data clearly showed that Miscanthus giganteus has higher yield and biomass than swichgrass. Would be great if the research can answer why and how it can be transferred to other crops.
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