Optimising development for improved yield quality in the perennial bioenergy crop Miscanthus

包括生物能源和工业生物技术在内的低碳技术被BIS视为英国经济的重要增长部门，需要可持续的原料供应。芒草是英国和全球公认的具有潜力的主要专用生物质作物之一。初始产量低会影响芒草的经济效益和温室气体平衡，这将在项目中得到解决。该项目将包括研究提高芒草的性能，并使在IBERS培育的新品种得到更好的利用。该项目将补充和加强Terravesta推出以种子为基础的芒草杂交品种的计划，到2030年，在英国市场上提供高达22TWH的生物质，目前的市场价值为3.6亿英镑。该项目将通过Terravesta与农民和最终用户的传播活动产生影响，公司将让学生和他们的工作作为Miscanthus新发展的典范。我们假设，在温室条件下的早期生长与保护性生物可降解膜下的田间生长相结合，将延长芒草的建立期，从而改善其越冬性，并在随后的年份提高产量。学生将在随后的季节监测生长和产量，并将模拟环境和产量相互作用（第二年和第三年）。我们假设，芒草伸长生长曲线代表了一个适当的性状组合的合成，有助于早期建立产量。学生将开发参数化生长曲线（二年级）（例如伍兹不完全伽马函数），以确定有助于发芽种子，幼苗和田间种植植物成功早期建立的潜在遗传成分。通过对6种不同基因型芒草杂交种子在2种温度下的图像分析，生成幼苗生长曲线。这6种基因型将来自不同的基因型群体和地理来源。根据种子到幼苗生长参数分离的群体将生长到成熟，以将幼苗生长参数与第一年产量联系起来。该学生还将分析一项已建立的芒草多样性试验的生长曲线，其中有许多数据，包括NGS测序和一些简单的性状分析。这些参数将与其他项目的性状数据进行比较，并用于关联研究，以确定与早季生长曲线（第2年）参数相关的标记。学生将利用阿伯里斯特威斯大学提供的生物信息学工具，尽可能/必要地验证标记关联，以产生可发表的数据。来自田间研究的范例基因型将在受控环境中生长，以验证田间分析并生成详细的性状关联曲线参数（第3年）。我们假设，在第一年之后改善衰老将增加产量，并将允许在英国种植目前由于越冬损失而无法获得的高产品种。将在盆栽实验中用化学方法诱导芒草衰老，以确定最适合用于田间研究的化学物质。根茎发育和代谢通量将使用Micromass LCT质谱仪测量（第一年和第二年）。这将为在代谢水平上调控芒草的衰老提供基本的见解。与Terravesta合作，学生将建立M. x giganteus的第一年生长的田间地块研究和一个高产的新型杂交品种，在英国不越冬。该试验将重复进行，并将包括对照喷雾和化学诱导衰老（第二年秋季）。测量将包括生长第1年后试验植株的叶绿素（SPAD）和荧光测量（PAM）在衰老进程中的形态学差异，以及对随后收获的作物质量的影响，作为衰老的生化测量。

Low carbon technologies including bioenergy and industrial biotechnology are seen as important growth sectors within the UK economy by BIS and will need sustainable supplies of feedstock. Miscanthus is one of the main dedicated biomass crops identified as having potential in the UK and globally. Low initial yield affects the economics and GHG balance of Miscanthus and this will be addressed in the project. The project will involve research to improve the performance of Miscanthus and allow new varieties bred at IBERS to be better utilised. The project will complement and enhance Terravesta's plans to roll out seed-based Miscanthus hybrids to deliver biomass in the UK market producing up to 22TWH with a current market value of £360m by 2030. The project will achieve impact through Terravesta's dissemination activities with farmers and end users and the company will involve the student and their work as exemplars of new developments in Miscanthus.We hypothesise that early growth under glasshouse conditions combined with field growth under protective biodegradable film will extend the establishment period for Miscanthus producing improved overwintering and increased yield in subsequent years. The student will monitor growth and yield over subsequent seasons and will model environment and yield interactions (Year 2 and 3).We hypothesise that Miscanthus elongation growth curves represent a suitable synthesis of trait combinations that contribute to early establishment yield. The student will develop parameterised growth curves (Year 2) (e.g. Woods incomplete gamma function) to identify underlying genetic components that contribute to successful early establishment in both germinating seeds, seedlings and field grown plants. Seedling growth curves will be produced using image analysis of Miscanthus hybrid seed, from 6 diverse genotypes under 2 temperatures. The 6 genotypes will be from distinct genotypic groups and geographical origins. Populations that segregate for seed-to-seedling growth parameters will be grown to maturity to relate seedling growth parameters to first year yield. The student will also analyse growth curves from an established Miscanthus diversity trial in which much data is available including NGS sequencing and some simple trait analysis. The parameters will be compared with trait data from other projects and used in association studies to identify markers associated with parameters from early season growth curves (Year 2). The student will utilise bioinformatics tools available at Aberystwyth to verify marker associations as far as possible/necessary to produce publishable data. Exemplar genotypes from the field study will be grown in controlled environments to verify field analysis and to generate detailed curve parameter to trait associations (Year 3). We hypothesise that improved senescence after the first year will increase yield and will allow high yielding varieties to be grown in the UK that are currently not available due to overwintering loss. Miscanthus will be chemically induced to senesce in pot experiments to identify the most suitable chemical(s) for use in field studies. Rhizome development and metabolic flux will be measured using a Micromass LCT mass spectrometer (Years 1 & 2). This will provide fundamental insights into the regulation of senescence in rhizomatous Miscanthus at the metabolic level. In collaboration with Terravesta the student will establish field plot studies of first year growth of M. x giganteus and a high yielding novel hybrid that does not overwinter in the UK. The trial will be replicated and will include control sprays and chemically induced senescence (Autumn Year 2). Measurements will include the morphological difference in senescence progression from chlorophyll (SPAD) and fluorescence measurements (PAM) in trial plants after growth year 1, plus the impact on subsequent harvested crop quality, as a biochemical measure of senescence.