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

1624331 Van Aken在受污染的土地上种植生物能源原料工厂，以实现生物能源生产和土地生物修复的综合效益，是一项有潜力提高植物生物燃料成本效益的有吸引力的战略。从木质纤维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。本研究选用的植物为木质纤维原料柳枝菊，是研究第二代生物乙醇生产的模式植物。拟议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植物柳枝菊生物量生产力和消化率的生理和分子影响。将接受测试的污染物是新出现的模型污染物金霉素，已知它对大多数植物物种都有毒性作用。本研究涉及以下两个具体目标：1.确定植物毒性新兴污染物金霉素对木质纤维素饲料植物柳枝菊的生物量、组成和消化率的影响。2.了解金霉素影响柳枝条植物生物量和木质纤维素组成的分子机制。利用分析和分子生物学相结合的方法，这项拟议的研究将解决以下问题：1.柳枝草植物对所选污染物金霉素的耐受性是什么？2.金霉素将如何在生物量生产力、木质纤维素消化率和生物乙醇转化方面影响柳枝草植物？3.金霉素暴露植物生物量和生物量组成(如木质素)变化背后的遗传和分子基础是什么？研究小组带来了植物技术、分子生物学和光谱分析方面的互补专业知识来进行研究。除了以上概述的研究目标，该项目还将整合大学的研究和教育，并包括高中生的参与。

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.