EAGER: Effects of Environmental Contaminants on the Lignocellulosic Biomass in Switchgrass Plants

在受污染的土地上种植生物能源原料植物，以获得生物能源生产和土地生物修复的综合效益，是一种有吸引力的策略，有可能提高植物基生物燃料的成本效益。从木质纤维素生物质生产生物乙醇，即第二代生物乙醇，目前被认为是减少对化石燃料的依赖和减少二氧化碳排放的最可持续的选择之一，同时限制了与粮食生产土地的竞争。本研究选择的植物是木质纤维素原料物种柳枝稷（柳枝稷），它是研究第二代生物乙醇生产的模式植物。拟议的研究的总体目标是确定植物毒性抗生素金霉素对木质纤维素植物柳枝稷的生物质生产力和消化率的生理和分子效应。将被测试的污染物是模型新兴污染物，金霉素，这是已知的对大多数植物物种产生毒性作用。本研究主要有以下两个目的：1.确定植物毒性新兴污染物金霉素对木质纤维素原料植物柳枝稷（柳枝稷）的生物质生产率、组成和消化率的影响。2.了解金霉素影响柳枝稷生物量生产力和木质纤维素组成的分子机制。使用分析和分子生物学方法相结合，拟议的研究将解决以下问题：1。柳枝稷植物对所选污染物金霉素的耐受性如何？2.金霉素将如何影响柳枝稷植物的生物量生产力，木质纤维素消化率，生物乙醇转化？3.生物量和生物量组成变化的遗传和分子基础是什么（例如，木质素）在氯四环素暴露的植物？研究团队带来了植物技术，分子生物学和光谱分析方面的互补专业知识来进行研究。除了上述研究目标外，该项目还将在大学将研究和教育结合起来，并包括高中学生的参与。

1624331Van AkenGrowing bioenergy feedstock plants on contaminated land for the combined benefit of bioenergy production and land bioremediation is an attractive strategy which has the potential to increase the cost-efficiency of plant-based biofuel. Production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, second generation bioethanol, is currently considered one of the most sustainable options for reducing dependency on fossil fuel and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, while limiting competition with land for food production. The plant selected for this study is the lignocellulosic feedstock species, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), which is a model plant to study the production of second-generation bioethanol. The overall objective of the proposed research is to determine the physiological and molecular effects of the phytotoxic antibiotic, chlortetracycline, on the biomass productivity and digestibility in the lignocellulosic plant, switchgrass. The contaminant that will be tested is the model emerging contaminant, chlortetracycline, which is known to exert toxic effects toward most plant species. The proposed research involves the two following specific aims: 1. To determine the effects of the phytotoxic emerging contaminant, chlortetracycline, on the biomass productivity, composition, and digestibility in the model lignocellulosic feedstock plant, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). 2. To understand the molecular mechanisms by which chlortetracycline affects the biomass productivity and lignocellulose composition in exposed switchgrass plants. Using a combination of analytical and molecular biology methods, the proposed research will address the following questions: 1. What is the tolerance of switchgrass plants toward the selected contaminant, chlortetracycline? 2. How will chlortetracycline affect switchgrass plants in terms of biomass productivity, lignocellulose digestibility, and bioethanol conversion? 3. What are the genetic and molecular bases underlying the changes in biomass and biomass composition (e.g., lignin) in chlortetracycline-exposed plants? The research team brings complementary expertise in phytotechnology, molecular biology, and spectral analyses to conduct the research. Besides the research objectives outlined above, this project will integrate research and education, at the University and include the participation of high school students.