Methods of Increasing Miscanthus Biomass Yield for Biofuel Production

The lignocellulosic perennial crop miscanthus, especially Miscanthus × giganteus, is particularly interesting for bioenergy production as it combines high biomass production with low environmental impact. However, there are several varieties that pose a hazard due to susceptibility to disease. This review contains links showing genotype and ecological variability of important characteristics related to yield and biomass composition of miscanthus that may be useful in plant breeding programs to increase bioenergy production. Some clones of Miscanthus × giganteus and Miscanthus sinensis are particularly interesting due to their high biomass production per hectare. Although the compositional requirements for industrial biomass have not been fully defined for the various bioenergy conversion processes, the lignin-rich species Miscanthus × giganteus and Miscanthus sacchariflorus seem to be more suitable for thermochemical conversion processes. At the same time, the species Miscanthus sinensis and some clones of Miscanthus × giganteus with low lignin content are of interest for the biochemical transformation process. The species Miscanthus sacchariflorus is suitable for various bioenergy conversion processes due to its low ash content, so this species is also interesting as a pioneer in breeding programs. Mature miscanthus crops harvested in winter are favored by industrial enterprises to improve efficiency and reduce processing costs. This study can be attributed to other monocotyledonous plants and perennial crops that can be used as feedstock for biofuels.

Prospects and methods of polyploid selection of new high-yielding miscanthus clones in the natural climatic conditions of Ukraine

Goal. Expanding the breeding trait collection of breeding genotypes of the genus Miscanthus (Anderson) and the genetic basis for new allotriploid clones by transferring components for hybridization of natural wild species Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus to the tetraploid level. Methods. Cytological, biotechnological, fluorescent cytphotometry, field, laboratory. Results. The efficiency of polyploidisation for induction of new tetraploid forms of miscanthus in liquid nutrient media supplemented with colchicine (0.05% mass) and for stabilization of myxoploid shoots (0.005% mass) for 6 h of cultivation is examined. The period of exposure for Miscanthus sinensis (2x=2x= 38) and Miscanthus sacchariflorus (2x = 2x = 38) varied from 2 hours to 3 days depending on the genetic origin of the material, with transfer to a hormonal environment. The best indicators of tetraploid induction for Miscanthus sinensis were observed for the exposure period of 2 days with polyploidization efficiency (Db%) of 31.25% and 21.42%, and for Miscanthus sacchariflorus 2 and 6 hours with 35.0% and 27.3%, respectively. The technology of transfering rooted shoots into the soil on the Yaltushkiv Eperimental Breeding Farm was improved and the composition of the soil mixture that provided 99% rooting of culture seedlings at a humidity of 60−70% and air temperature of 35−55°С was found. Conclusions. New biotechnological tetraploid lines of Miscanthus sinensis (2xn=4x=76) and Miscanthus sacchariflorus (2xn=4x=76) were created in the conditions of liquid nutrient media supplemented with colchicine (0.05 % mass). It is investigated that flowering of new tetraploid clones in the conditions of Ukraine for the second year of vegetation occurs from late September to early October with formation of fertile pollen grains.

Biomass Potential of the Marginal Land of the Polish Sudetes Mountain Range

Marginal land is the area remaining in agricultural use, which is not suitable for food production because of its unfavorable ecological, anthropological, and economic conditions. A certain amount of such land exists in mountainous areas. An analysis was undertaken on the example of the Polish Sudeten mountain range of energy use. The study aimed to estimate the biomass potential for the efficient use of agricultural land in mountain areas. The characteristics of the Polish Sudeten Mountains mountain range were characterized using Geographic Information System (GIS) methods. The Polish Sudeten Mountains covers an area of 370,392 ha, 95,341 ha of which is arable land, 35,726 ha of which is class 5 bonitation land with a northern exposure of 19,030 ha and southern exposure of 16,696 ha. Depending on the sowing structure, we can obtain 331,639 tons/year of dry biomass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus on the southern and Helianthus tuberoses on northern exposure). Fertilization levels will significantly affect low yielding plants, and water stress significantly reduced yields in all cases. Due to the steep slope of the 5th-grade halves and intensive rainfall in the mountain region, the establishment of perennial plantations is recommended. The research shows that after the first year of cultivation, yields of 9.27 tons/ha of dry matter can be obtained with a low yield of trees, shrubs and perennials.

Flora and Vegetation Characteristics of the Natural Habitat of the Endangered Plant Pterygopleurum neurophyllum

This study analyzed the flora, life form, and vegetation of the Nakdong River wetland. Vegetation analysis was performed on 37 plots using the phytosociological method of the Zürich-Montpellier School. PCA analysis was conducted by using the vegetation data (ground cover of class; 1~9) of 37 plots surveyed by phytosociological method. PCA (Principal Component Analysis) was used to statistically analyze the objectivity of the community classification and the character species. The traditional classification and mathematical statistic methods were used. A total of 82 taxa belonging to 28 families, 65 genera, 72 species, 2 subspecies, and 8 varieties were present in the vegetation of the survey area. The life form was analyzed to be the Th-R5-D4-e type. The communities were classified into seven communities: Miscanthus sacchariflorus community, Phragmites communis community, Phragmites communis–Carex dispalata community, Ulmus parvifolia community, Zizania latifolia community, Setaria viridis community, and Salix koriyanagi–Salix chaenomeloides community. As a result of PCA analysis, it was classified into seven communities. Seven communities were analyzed, where the most dominant species (M. sacchariflorus, P. communis, C. dispalata, U. parvifolia, Z. latifolia, S. viridis, S. koriyanagi, S. chaenomeloides) of each community were examined as character species. Another species is analyzed as Salix koreensis. Of the sixteen M. sacchariflorus communities, Pterygopleurum neurophyllum was present in six plots (A-2 group) but not in ten plots (A-1 group). These two groups showed differences in coverage and the number of occurring species. As for the relative net contribution degree (r-NCD) in the A-2 group, most species showed low r-NCD except for M. sacchariflorus, which showed an r-NCD of 100. The r-NCDs in the A-1 group were as follows: Miscanthus sacchariflorus (100), P. neurophyllum (21.74), and Persicaria perfoliata (10.14). Therefore, P. neurophyllum is difficult to grow in the A-1 group. As a result, it is thought that the high density of M. sacchariflorus affects the growth and distribution of P. neurophyllum. In order to expand and maintain P. neurophyllum, the habitat environment needs to be altered by adjusting the density of M. sacchariflorus.

Community Trait Responses of Three Dominant Macrophytes to Variations in Flooding During 2011–2019 in a Yangtze River-Connected Floodplain Wetland (Dongting Lake, China)

In lacustrine wetlands connected to rivers, the changes in flood regimes caused by hydrological projects lead to changes in the community traits of dominant macrophytes and, consequently, influence the structure and function of wetland vegetation. However, community trait responses of macrophytes to the timing and duration of flood disturbance have been rarely quantified. In 2011–2019, we investigated plant species diversity, density, and biomass in three dominant macrophyte communities (Carex brevicuspis C.B. Clarke, Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hackel, and Polygonum hydropiper L.) through monthly field surveys in Dongting Lake wetlands. Partial least squares regressions were used to analyze how the variations in hydrological regimes affected plant community traits. Apparent inter-annual fluctuations in plant community traits were detected during 2011–2019. The species richness and Shannon index of diversity of Miscanthus and Polygonum communities increased, whereas the Shannon index of diversity of Carex community decreased. Variation in flooding had a greater effect on Polygonum and Carex community traits than on Miscanthus community traits. Flooding disturbed all plant communities, especially when the duration and timing varied. Shorter inundation periods caused the biomass of Miscanthus community to decline, and that of Carex and Polygonum communities to increase. Earlier flood recession caused the species richness and Shannon index of diversity of Polygonum and Miscanthus community to increase, and those of Carex community to decrease. These findings imply that shorter inundation durations and earlier flood recession generated by the operation of the Three Gorges Dam have changed the macrophyte growth pattern.

Screening of Functional Compounds in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extracts from Perennial Herbaceous Crops

The bio-based economy concept requires using biomass not only for energy production but also for bioactive compound extraction, application or biotransformation. This study analyzed the possibility of obtaining bioactive compounds from biomass before its transformation into biofuel. This involved an analysis of the total content of polyphenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), and spectral analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (QATR- FTIR) as well as analysis of the antioxidant activity of extracts from selected perennial herbaceous crops cultivated on marginal lands in Poland. The extracts were obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (scCO2) or scCO2 with water as a cosolvent (scCO2/H2O) from biomass of the following plants: Helianthus salicifolius, Silphium perfoliatum, Helianthus tuberosus, Miscanthus × giganteus, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Miscanthus sinensis and Spartina pectinata. The biomass was harvested twice during the growing period (June and October) and once after the end of the growing period (February). For most of the analyzed extracts obtained from biomass at the growing stage using scCO2 or scCO2/H2O, a higher TPC was noted than for samples of semi-wood or straw biomass obtained after the end of the growing period. Higher contents of polyphenolic compounds were recorded in extracts obtained using scCO2/H2O. A positive correlation between TPC and antioxidant activity was noted for the analyzed substrates. Flavonoid contents varied in the analyzed samples, and higher contents were generally obtained in scCO2 extracts from biomass harvested at the beginning of the growing period. A high diversity of extract compositions was confirmed by spectral analysis. The presented data can be used at the initial stage of planning a biorefinery.

PECULIARITIES OF CREATION OF MISCANTHUS SINENSIS AND MISCANTHUS SACCHARIFLORUS TETRAPLOID LINES

The work aimed at creating tetraploid lines of Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus species. To achieve this goal, we used methods of microclonal propagation, fluorescence cytophotometry, and genomic status differentiation using computer software of AP ‘Partec’ (Germany). It was found that the percentage of cultivated shoots of Miscanthus sacchariflorus for an exposure period of 1 day was 18.86 ± 5.37%. To compare, it was51.78 ± 6.51% in Miscanthus sinensis. The best indicators of tetraploid induction in Miscanthus sinensis were observed for the exposure to colchicine for 2 days with polyploidization efficiency of 31.25% and 21.42%, and in Miscanthus sacchariflorusf or 2 hours and 6 hours with rates of 35.0% and 27.3%, respectively. To stabilize the tetraploid level of genome ploidy, we used Murashige and Skoog liquid media (1962) supplemented with 0.005% colchicine and an exposure period of myxoploids for 6 hours. The flowering of new tetraploid clones in the conditions of Ukraine was observed on the second year of vegetation in late September and the beginning of October with the formation of fertile pollen grains. However, development of a microgametophyte depends on temperature conditions, both for Miscanthus sinensis (4x) and Miscanthus sacchariflorus (4x). Breeding schemes for the formation of anisoploid populations have also been developed: M sinensis (4x) x M sinensis (2x); M. sa?chariflorus (4x) x M sinensis (2x); M sinensis (4x) x M. sachariflorus (2x)