Biomass yield in a genetically diverse Miscanthus sacchariflorus germplasm panel phenotyped at five locations in Asia, North America, and Europe

• Published in: Global change biology. Bioenergy Vol. 15; no. 5; pp. 642 - 662
• Main Authors: Njuguna, Joyce N., Clark, Lindsay V., Anzoua, Kossonou G., Bagmet, Larisa, Chebukin, Pavel, Dwiyanti, Maria S., Dzyubenko, Elena, Dzyubenko, Nicolay, Ghimire, Bimal Kumar, Jin, Xiaoli, Johnson, Douglas A., Jørgensen, Uffe, Kjeldsen, Jens Bonderup, Nagano, Hironori, Peng, Junhua, Petersen, Karen Koefoed, Sabitov, Andrey, Seong, Eun Soo, Yamada, Toshihiko, Yoo, Ji Hye, Yu, Chang Yeon, Zhao, Hua, Long, Stephen P., Sacks, Erik J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.05.2023; Wiley
• Subjects: Adaptation; Agricultural production; bioenergy; Biomass; biomass yield; Cloning; Cultivars; Energy crops; Flowering; Genetic diversity; Genetic resources; Genotypes; Germplasm; Miscanthus; Miscanthus sacchariflorus; Miscanthus × giganteus; multilocation field trials; Nodes; Plant breeding; Renewable energy; Species diversity; Temperate environments; Tropical environment; Tropical environments; Winter; South Korea; Asia; United States > US; Europe; Illinois; China; Japan; Denmark; North America; Russia
• ISSN: 1757-1693; 1757-1707
• DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.13043

Miscanthus is a high‐yielding bioenergy crop that is broadly adapted to temperate and tropical environments. Commercial cultivation of Miscanthus is predominantly limited to a single sterile triploid clone of Miscanthus × giganteus, a hybrid between Miscanthus sacchariflorus and M. sinensis. To expand the genetic base of M. × giganteus, the substantial diversity within its progenitor species should be used for cultivar improvement and diversification. Here, we phenotyped a diversity panel of 605 M. sacchariflorus from six previously described genetic groups and 27 M. × giganteus genotypes for dry biomass yield and 16 yield‐component traits, in field trials grown over 3 years at one subtropical location (Zhuji, China) and four temperate locations (Foulum, Denmark; Sapporo, Japan; Urbana, Illinois; and Chuncheon, South Korea). There was considerable diversity in yield and yield‐component traits among and within genetic groups of M. sacchariflorus, and across the five locations. Biomass yield of M. sacchariflorus ranged from 0.003 to 34.0 Mg ha−1 in year 3. Variation among the genetic groups was typically greater than within, so selection of genetic group should be an important first step for breeding with M. sacchariflorus. The Yangtze 2x genetic group (=ssp. lutarioriparius) of M. sacchariflorus had the tallest and thickest culms at all locations tested. Notably, the Yangtze 2x genetic group's exceptional culm length and yield potential were driven primarily by a large number of nodes (>29 nodes culm−1 average over all locations), which was consistent with the especially late flowering of this group. The S Japan 4x, the N China/Korea/Russia 4x, and the N China 2x genetic groups were also promising genetic resources for biomass yield, culm length, and culm thickness, especially for temperate environments. Culm length was the best indicator of yield potential in M. sacchariflorus. These results will inform breeders' selection of M. sacchariflorus genotypes for population improvement and adaptation to target production environments. Miscanthus sacchariflorus is a high‐yielding bioenergy crop that is broadly adapted to temperate and tropical environments. This study assessed the diversity of biomass yield in 605 accessions of M. sacchariflorus grown across multiple locations and years. The results showed substantial variation for yield and yield‐component traits observed among and within the genetic groups of M. sacchariflorus indicating that genetic improvement of this species by selection on existing natural variation should be feasible. The study also identified the top yielding genotypes of M. sacchariflorus that will inform breeders' selection for population improvement and adaptation to target production environments.