Microwave Assisted Pretreatment of Szarvasi (Agropyron elongatum) Biomass to Enhance Enzymatic Saccharification and Direct Glucose Production

Biomass from perennial plants can be considered a carbon-neutral renewable resource. The tall wheatgrass hybrid Szarvasi-1 (Agropyron elongatum, hereafter referred to as “Szarvasi”) belongs to the perennial Poaceae representing a species, which can grow on marginal soils and produce large amounts of biomass. Several conventional and advanced pretreatment methods have been developed to enhance the saccharification efficiency of plant biomass. Advanced pretreatment methods, such as microwave-assisted pretreatment methods are faster and use less energy compared to conventional pretreatment methods. In this study, we investigated the potential of Szarvasi biomass as a biorefinery feedstock. For this purpose, the lignocellulosic structure of Szarvasi biomass was investigated in detail. In addition, microwave-assisted pretreatments were applied to Szarvasi biomass using different reagents including weak acids and alkali. The produced pulp, hydrolysates, and extracted lignin were quantitatively characterized. In particular, the alkali pretreatment significantly enhanced the saccharification efficiency of the pulp 16-fold compared to untreated biomass of Szarvasi. The acid pretreatment directly converted 25% of the cellulose into glucose without the need of enzymatic digestion. In addition, based on lignin compositional and lignin linkage analysis a lignin chemical model structure present in Szarvasi biomass could be established.

Genome-wide identification, characteristics and expression of the prolamin genes in Thinopyrum elongatum

Background Prolamins, unique to Gramineae (grasses), play a key role in the human diet. Thinopyrum elongatum (syn. Agropyron elongatum or Lophopyrum elongatum), a grass of the Triticeae family with a diploid E genome (2n = 2x = 14), is genetically well-characterized, but little is known about its prolamin genes and the relationships with homologous loci in the Triticeae species. Results In this study, a total of 19 α-gliadin, 9 γ-gliadin, 19 ω-gliadin, 2 high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS), and 5 low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (LMW-GS) genes were identified in the Th. elongatum genome. Micro-synteny and phylogenetic analysis revealed dynamic changes of prolamin gene regions and genetic affinities among Th. elongatum, Triticum aestivum, T. urartu and Aegilops tauschii. The Th. elongatum genome, like the B subgenome of T. aestivum, only contained celiac disease epitope DQ8-glia-α1/DQ8.5-glia-α1, which provided a theoretical basis for the low gluten toxicity wheat breeding. The transcriptome data of Th. elongatum exhibited differential expression in quantity and pattern in the same subfamily or different subfamilies. Dough rheological properties of T. aestivum-Th. elongatum disomic substitution (DS) line 1E(1D) showed higher peak height values than that of their parents, and DS6E(6D) exhibited fewer α-gliadins, which indicates the potential usage for wheat quality breeding. Conclusions Overall, this study provided a comprehensive overview of the prolamin gene family in Th. elongatum, and suggested a promising use of this species in the generation of improved wheat breeds intended for the human diet.

The effect of multi-layer farming on tall wheatgrass and Hungarian sainfoin productivities

Нерациональное использование природных ресурсов вызвало масштабную деградацию Кизлярских пастбищных угодий, которая резко усилилась в последние десятилетия. Между тем они являются важным источником дешёвых кормов для отгонного и стационарного животноводства Республики Дагестан, где на площади 1,5 млн га в осеннее-зимне-весенний период содержится не менее 2 млн голов овец. Продуктивность пастбищ в этой зоне не превышает 0,10–0,15 т/га сухой кормовой массы. В настоящее время чрезвычайно актуальна разработка новых технологий фитомелиорации деградированных кормовых угодий. Предлагается внедрение многокомпонентных двух-трёхъярусных агрофитоценозов путём посадки кустарников (джузгуна безлистного Calligonum aphyllum (Pall.) Gurke), полукустарников (терескена серого Eutoria ceratoides (L.) С. А. Mey.), посева многолетних злаковых (пырея удлинённого Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv) и бобовых (эспарцета песчаного Onobrychis arenaria (Kit) D. C.) трав. Данный приём способствует ослаблению деградационных процессов и получению максимального выхода кормовой массы с единицы площади. Целью наших исследований являлось изучение продуктивности фитомелиоративных кормовых культур (пырея удлинённого и эспарцета песчаного) в многолетних двух-трёхъярусных агрофитоценозах разных сроков использования. Полученные данные свидетельствуют о том, что джузгун безлистный и терескен серый благоприятно влияют на урожайность пырея удлинённого и эспарцета песчаного. В опыте с пыреем удлинённым это увеличение составило 1,67 т/га зелёной массы по сравнению с контрольным вариантом (естественное кормовое угодье), а в исследованиях с эспарцетом — 3,44 т/га. Наиболее перспективным оказалось создание трёхъярусных агрофитоценозов: в них наблюдали самые высокие показатели облиственности растений, длины соцветий и количества стеблей пырея удлинённого и эспарцета песчаного. Environmental abuse has caused large-scale degradation of the Kizlyar grasslands, sharply increasing in recent decades. These pastures are an important source of cheap fresh green and rough feed in the Republic of Dagestan, where at least 2 million heads of sheep are kept on 1.5 million ha from autumn to summer. The pasture productivity does not exceed 0.10–0.15 t ha-1 of dry mass in this zone. Currently, the development of new technologies for degraded land restoration is extremely important. It is proposed to introduce multicomponent ecosystems of various height by planting shrubs (Calligonum aphyllum (Pall.) Gurke), semi-shrubs (winterfat Eutoria ceratoides (L.) C.A.) Beauv), perennial grasses (tall wheatgrass Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv) and legumes (Hungarian sainfoin Onobrychis arenaria (Kit) DC). This practice has a potential to improve the land quality and provide the maximum yield of feed. The research aimed at studying the productivity of tall wheatgrass and Hungarian sainfoin as components of perennial multi-layered agrophytocenoses of different periods of use. It was revealed that Calligonum aphyllum and winterfat had a positive effect on the yield of tall wheatgrass and Hungarian sainfoin. The yield increase was 1.67 t ha-1 of green mass for tall wheatgrass, and — 3.44 t ha-1 — for Hungarian sainfoin. Three-layer agrophytocenoses were the most promising: tall wheatgrass and Hungarian sainfoin showed the highest plant foliage, length of inflorescences and number of stems.

Продуктивность и хлебопекарные свойства ×Trititrigia cziczinii

Многолетняя пшеница — трититригия, несущая гены своих родительских видов, в качестве которых использовали виды пырея Agropyron elongatum (Host) P. Beauv. [syn. Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Zhi W. Liu et R. R.-C. Wang] и A. glaucum (Desf. ex DC) Roem. and Schult. [syn. Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth et D. R. Dewey] и сорта мягкой и твердой пшеницы (Triticum aestivum L. и T. durum Desf.) в различных комбинациях, унаследовала много положительных свойств своих родителей (многолетность, способность к отрастанию после уборки, более высокий показатели качества зерна — содержание белка, клейковины и т.д., устойчивость к неблагоприятным почвенно-климатическим условиям, ряду болезней). Для установления объективной оценки качественных показателей зерна трититригии в условиях центрального региона России в зоне рискованного земледелия изучены технологические и хлебопекарные показатели некоторых образцов данной культуры. При обычных условиях для роста и развития растений многолетняя пшеница накапливает в зерне значительное количество белка — 18 – 19 %. Анализ хлебопекарных достоинств трититригии показал, что основные показатели такие как внешний вид, пористость, объем хлеба, превышают показатели сорта озимой пшеницы Московская 39, используемого в качестве стандарта. Исследуемые образцы многолетней пшеницы (М 3202, ЗП 26,548, Памяти Любимовой) имели высокую хлебопекарную оценку — от 3,8 до 4,0 баллов соответственно, тогда как у стандарта Московская 39 общая оценка — 3,7 балла.

Long-Term Yield and Quality Performance of Perennial Energy Grasses (Agropyron spp.) on Marginal Land

The cultivation of perennial grasses is one of the most desirable alternatives as energy feedstock, but it is difficult to achieve competitive yields under Mediterranean marginal conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of three cool-season grasses (Agropyron spp.) from an agronomic and energetic point of view by comparing the dry matter (DM) yields, rain use efficiency, chemical composition, and biomass quality over an eight-year period in Spain under marginal rainfed conditions. The tall wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv.) cultivars, Alkar (4.8 Mg DM·ha−1) and Jose (4.7 Mg DM·ha−1), achieved the highest yields. Productions below 0.5 Mg DM·ha−1 were obtained when rainfall was lower than 150 mm between March and June. The biomass obtained from the tested grasses showed relatively high contents of ash, silicon, and alkali elements. Net calorific values ranged between 16.7 and 18.5 MJ·kg−1 db. Differences in the composition among species and cultivars are not likely to affect their combustion behavior from a practical point of view. The ash content, as well as the concentrations of K, S, Na, and Cl, tended to decrease over the years. The results offered would be very useful for the implementation of this type of crop in marginal land.

Molecular-cytogenetic analysis of diploid wheatgrass Thinopyrum bessarabicum (Savul. and Rayss) A. Löve

Thinopyrum bessarabicum (T. Săvulescu & T. Rayss, 1923) A. Löve, 1980 is diploid (2n=2x=14, JJ or EbEb), perennial self-fertilizing rhizomatous maritime beach grass, which is phylogenetically close to another diploid wheatgrass species, Agropyron elongatum (N. Host, 1797) P. de Beauvois, 1812. The detailed karyotype of Th. bessarabicum was constructed based on FISH with six DNA probes representing 5S and 45S rRNA gene families and four tandem repeats. We found that the combination of pAesp_SAT86 (= pTa-713) probe with pSc119.2 or pAs1/ pTa-535 allows the precise identification of all J-genome chromosomes. Comparison of our data with the results of other authors showed that karyotypically Th. bessarabicum is distinct from A. elongatum. On the other hand, differences between the J-genome chromosomes of Th. bessarabicum and the chromosomes of hexaploid Th. intermedium (N. Host, 1797) M. Barkworth & D.R. Dewey, 1985 and decaploid Th. ponticum (J. Podpěra, 1902) Z.–W. Liu & R.–C. Wang, 1993 in the distribution of rDNA loci and hybridization patterns of pSc119.2 and pAs1 probes could be an indicative of (1) this diploid species was probably not involved in the origin of these polyploids or (2) it could has contributed the J-genome to Th. intermedium and Th. ponticum, but it was substantially modified over the course of speciation

Bioenergy from Periodically Waterlogged Cropland in Europe: A First Assessment of the Potential of Five Perennial Energy Crops to Provide Biomass and Their Interactions with Soil

Harvesting of silage maize in late autumn on waterlogged soils may result in several ecological problems such as soil compaction and may subsequently be a major threat to soil fertility in Europe. It was hypothesized that perennial energy crops might reduce the vulnerability for soil compaction through earlier harvest dates and improved soil stability. However, the performance of such crops to be grown on soil that are periodically waterlogged and implications for soil chemical and microbial properties are currently an open issue. Within the framework of a two-year pot experiment we investigated the potential of the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.), Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), giant knotweed (Fallopia japonicum × bohemica), tall wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum), and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) for cultivation under periodically waterlogged soil conditions during the winter half year and implications for soil chemical and biological properties. Examined perennial energy crops coped with periodical waterlogging and showed yields 50% to 150% higher than in the control which was never faced with waterlogging. Root formation was similar in waterlogged and non-waterlogged soil layers. Soil chemical and microbial properties clearly responded to different soil moisture treatments. For example, dehydrogenase activity was two to four times higher in the periodically waterlogged treatment compared to the control. Despite waterlogging, aerobic microbial activity was significantly elevated indicating morphological and metabolic adaptation of the perennial crops to withstand waterlogged conditions. Thus, our results reveal first evidence of a site-adapted biomass production on periodical waterlogged soils through the cultivation of perennial energy crops and for intense plant microbe interactions.

Molecular identification of the stem rust resistance genes in the introgression lines of spring bread wheat

A total of 57 introgression lines and 11 cultivars of spring bread wheat developed by All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection and cultivated in the Volga Region were analyzed. The lines were obtained with the participation of CIMMYT synthetics, durum wheat cultivars, direct crossing with Agropyron elongatum (CI-7-57) and have introgressions from related species of bread wheat, namely translocations from Ag. elongatum (7DS-7DL-7Ae#1L), Aegilops speltoides (2D-2S), Ae. ventricosum (2AL-2AS-2MV#1), Secale cereale (1BL-1R#1S), 6Agi (6D) substitution from Ag. intermedium and triticale Satu. Cultivars and lines were assessed for resistance to Saratov, Lysogorsk, Derbent and Omsk stem rust pathogen populations (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici), and analyzed for the presence of the known Sr resistance genes using molecular markers. The analysis of the cultivars’ and lines’ resistance to the Saratov pathogen population in the field, as well as to Omsk, Derbent and Lysogorsk populations at the seedling stage, showed the loss of efficiency of the Sr25 and Sr6Agi genes. The Sr31 gene remained effective. Thirty one wheat lines out of 57 (54.4 % of samples) were resistant to all pathogen populations taken into analysis. The Sr31/Lr26, Sr25/Lr19, Sr28, Sr57/Lr34 and Sr38/Lr37 genes were identified in the introgression lines. The Sr31/Lr26 gene was identified in 19 lines (33.3 % of samples). All lines carrying the 1RS.1BL translocation (Sr31/Lr26) were resistant to all pathogen populations taken into analysis. The Sr25/Lr19 gene was identified in 49 lines (86 %). The gene combination Sr31/Lr26+ Sr25/Lr19 was identified in 15 lines (26.3 %). The gene combinations Sr38/Lr37+Sr25/Lr19, Sr57/Lr34+Sr25/Lr19 and Sr31/Lr26+Sr25/Lr19+Sr28 were identified in 3 introgression lines. These three lines were characterized by resistance to the pathogen populations studied in this work. The Sr2, Sr24, Sr26, Sr32, Sr36 and Sr39 genes were not detected in the analyzed wheat lines.

Формирование технологических качеств озимых пшенично-пырейных гибридов в зависимости от уровня минерального питания

Представлены результаты многолетней работы по отдаленной гибридизации мягкой пшеницы с пыреем сизым (Agropyron glaucum) и пыреем удлиненным (Agropyron elongatum). Изучены технологические свойства зерна 5 озимых пшенично-пырейных гибридов (ППГ) урожая 2015 – 2016 гг. и влияние уровня минерального питания на проявление технологических качеств. Полевые испытания озимых ППГ проводили на полях центральной части Нечерноземной зоны России. Показано существенное влияние азотного питания (аммиачная селитра) на формирование показателей качества. Прибавка урожая по сравнению с контрольным вариантом (без подкормки) в среднем составила от 80 до 190 г/м2. Качество зерна большинства образцов озимых ППГ несколько ниже, чем у сортов озимой мягкой пшеницы. По массе 1000 зерен (в среднем 46 – 48 г) большинство образцов, за исключением ППГ 259, превосходят стандартный сорт. В контрольном варианте (без подкормок) формировалось низко- или среднестекловидное зерно — в среднем 47,5 %. Все варианты подкормок способствовали формированию высокостекловидного зерна — 72 – 77 %. Содержание клейковины в вариантах с подкормками в среднем было выше, чем в контроле, на 8,2 – 8,9 %. Образец ППГ 259 отличился повышенной стекловидностью зерна — от 60,5 (без подкормки) до 76,0 – 82,5 % в вариантах с азотом. По совокупности физико-химических и хлебопекарных свойств этот образец не уступал стандартному сорту Московская 39 и отвечал требованиям, предъявляемым к сильной пшенице. Создание сорта ППГ 259 доказывает возможность сочетания высокой урожайности и качества зерна у ППГ.