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Krug AS, B. M. Drummond E, Van Tassel DL, Warschefsky EJ. The next era of crop domestication starts now. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2205769120. [PMID: 36972445 PMCID: PMC10083606 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205769120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Current food systems are challenged by relying on a few input-intensive, staple crops. The prioritization of yield and the loss of diversity during the recent history of domestication has created contemporary crops and cropping systems that are ecologically unsustainable, vulnerable to climate change, nutrient poor, and socially inequitable. For decades, scientists have proposed diversity as a solution to address these challenges to global food security. Here, we outline the possibilities for a new era of crop domestication, focused on broadening the palette of crop diversity, that engages and benefits the three elements of domestication: crops, ecosystems, and humans. We explore how the suite of tools and technologies at hand can be applied to renew diversity in existing crops, improve underutilized crops, and domesticate new crops to bolster genetic, agroecosystem, and food system diversity. Implementing the new era of domestication requires that researchers, funders, and policymakers boldly invest in basic and translational research. Humans need more diverse food systems in the Anthropocene-the process of domestication can help build them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily B. M. Drummond
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z4, Canada
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Chen Z, He Y, Iqbal Y, Shi Y, Huang H, Yi Z. Investigation of genetic relationships within three Miscanthus species using SNP markers identified with SLAF-seq. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:43. [PMID: 35012465 PMCID: PMC8751252 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08277-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Miscanthus, which is a leading dedicated-energy grass in Europe and in parts of Asia, is expected to play a key role in the development of the future bioeconomy. However, due to its complex genetic background, it is difficult to investigate phylogenetic relationships in this genus. Here, we investigated 50 Miscanthus germplasms: 1 female parent (M. lutarioriparius), 30 candidate male parents (M. lutarioriparius, M. sinensis, and M. sacchariflorus), and 19 offspring. We used high-throughput Specific-Locus Amplified Fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) to identify informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all germplasms. RESULTS We identified 257,889 SLAF tags, of which 87,162 were polymorphic. Each tag was 264-364 bp long. The obtained 724,773 population SNPs were used to investigate genetic relationships within three species of Miscanthus. We constructed a phylogenetic tree of the 50 germplasms using the obtained SNPs and grouped them into two clades: one clade comprised of M. sinensis alone and the other one included the offspring, M. lutarioriparius, and M. sacchariflorus. Genetic cluster analysis had revealed that M. lutarioriparius germplasm C3 was the most likely male parent of the offspring. CONCLUSIONS As a high-throughput sequencing method, SLAF-seq can be used to identify informative SNPs in Miscanthus germplasms and to rapidly characterize genetic relationships within this genus. Our results will support the development of breeding programs with the focus on utilizing Miscanthus cultivars with elite biomass- or fiber-production potential for the developing bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Chen
- College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China. .,Hunan Engineering Laboratory of Miscanthus Ecological Applications, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China.
| | - Yancen He
- College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China.,Hunan Engineering Laboratory of Miscanthus Ecological Applications, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China
| | - Yasir Iqbal
- College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China.,Hunan Engineering Laboratory of Miscanthus Ecological Applications, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China
| | - Yanlan Shi
- College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China.,Hunan Engineering Laboratory of Miscanthus Ecological Applications, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China
| | - Hongmei Huang
- College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China. .,Hunan Engineering Laboratory of Miscanthus Ecological Applications, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China.
| | - Zili Yi
- College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China. .,Hunan Engineering Laboratory of Miscanthus Ecological Applications, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, PR China.
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Robson PRH, Donnison IS, Clifton‐Brown JC. Stem growth characteristics of high yielding Miscanthus correlate with yield, development and intraspecific competition within plots. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY. BIOENERGY 2019; 11:1075-1085. [PMID: 31583021 PMCID: PMC6767072 DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.12610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
High yielding perennial grasses are utilized as biomass for the bioeconomy and to displace fossil fuels. Many such grasses, including Miscanthus, are largely undomesticated. The main Miscanthus crop is a naturally occurring hydrid M. × giganteus (Mxg). All above ground biomass from Miscanthus is harvested. Stem traits correlate strongly with yield and therefore understanding the seasonal progression of stem growth should identify routes for improved yield. If such studies utilized high yielding commercial genotypes growing in plots the conclusions are likely to be more commercially relevant. Stem elongation was measured from five high yielding genotypes, 10 plants per plot from 20 plots in a replicated field trial over 4 years. Richards growth function produced an accurate fit to stem elongation. Differentials, double differentials and integrals of the parameterized function produced six growth characteristics, describing growth rate, timing and duration of the logarithmic growth phase and area under the growth curve. Maximum growth rate was correlated with yield and compensatory interactions were identified, for example plants with higher maximal growth rates had shorter durations of logarithmic growth. Plant position within plots of lower yielding genotypes did not affect growth characteristics but had a significant effect on late season growth characteristics in higher yielding genotypes. Two high yielding genotypes were compared over 3 years and growth parameterized using four different factors. The inverse correlation between maximum growth rate and duration of logarithmic growth was consistent across years and factors in both genotypes except when parameterized using temperature and only in Mxg. This suggested that different limitations to growth were exerted on the two genotypes which may help explain the exceptional performance of the Mxg genotype. We discuss the implications of the identified complex interactions in growth characteristics for approaches to maximize seasonal yield in perennial biomass crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R. H. Robson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS)Aberystwyth UniversityGogerddan, AberystwythWalesUnited Kingdom
| | - Iain S. Donnison
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS)Aberystwyth UniversityGogerddan, AberystwythWalesUnited Kingdom
| | - John C. Clifton‐Brown
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS)Aberystwyth UniversityGogerddan, AberystwythWalesUnited Kingdom
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4
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Zhao Y, Zhong L, Zhou K, Song Z, Chen J, Rong J. Seed characteristic variations and genetic structure of wild Zizania latifolia along a latitudinal gradient in China: implications for neo-domestication as a grain crop. AOB PLANTS 2018; 10:ply072. [PMID: 30595833 PMCID: PMC6304442 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/ply072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Crop wild relatives are not only important genetic resources for crop improvement, but also domestication candidates for selecting new crops. As a close relative of American wild rice Zizania palustris, Z. latifolia is a perennial aquatic grass widely distributed in China. Although Z. latifolia has been domesticated and cultivated as an aquatic vegetable for >1000 years, a neo-domestication for grain production needs to be soundly evaluated. In this study, we investigated the seed characteristic variations and genetic structure of 15 Z. latifolia wild populations along a latitudinal gradient in China. Our results showed that Z. latifolia tended to produce relatively larger seeds with lower moisture content and lower investments in seed pericarp at lower latitudes. The width, size, shape, seed-pericarp ratio and relative water content of seeds were significantly associated with climatic variables. The seeds of Z. latifolia showed a relatively low germination percentage and strong dormancy, which might hinder the neo-domestication. In addition, high genetic differentiation had been found among Z. latifolia populations, which could be attributed to isolation by distance. This study offered preliminary information for the utilization and conservation of wild Z. latifolia. It suggested that the wild populations in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River could be good candidates for grain crop domestication due to appropriate seed traits and high genetic diversity. The neo-domestication of wild Z. latifolia requires further researches on the genetic mechanism of the Domestication Syndrome and more works on artificial breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zhao
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecosystem Change and Biodiversity, Center for Watershed Ecology, Institute of Life Science and School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lan Zhong
- Institute of Vegetable, Wuhan Academy of Agriculture Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Kai Zhou
- Institute of Vegetable, Wuhan Academy of Agriculture Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhiping Song
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiakuan Chen
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Rong
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecosystem Change and Biodiversity, Center for Watershed Ecology, Institute of Life Science and School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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Xing S, Tao C, Song Z, Liu W, Yan J, Kang L, Lin C, Sang T. Coexpression network revealing the plasticity and robustness of population transcriptome during the initial stage of domesticating energy crop Miscanthus lutarioriparius. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 97:489-506. [PMID: 30006693 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-018-0754-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Coexpression network revealing genes with Co-variation Expression pattern (CE) and those with Top rank of Expression fold change (TE) played different roles in responding to new environment of Miscanthus lutarioriparius. Variation in gene expression level, the product of genetic and/or environmental perturbation, determines the robustness-to-plasticity spectrum of a phenotype in plants. Understanding how expression variation of plant population response to a new field is crucial to domesticate energy crops. Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was used to explore the patterns of expression variation based on 72 Miscanthus lutarioriparius transcriptomes from two contrasting environments, one near the native habitat and the other in one harsh domesticating region. The 932 genes with Co-variation Expression pattern (CE) and other 932 genes with Top rank of Expression fold change (TE) were identified and the former were strongly associated with the water use efficiency (r ≥ 0.55, P ≤ 10-7). Functional enrichment of CE genes were related to three organelles, which well matched the annotation of twelve motifs identified from their conserved noncoding sequence; while TE genes were mostly related to biotic and/or abiotic stress. The expression robustness of CE genes with high genetic diversity kept relatively stable between environments while the harsh environment reduced the expression robustness of TE genes with low genetic diversity. The expression plasticity of CE genes was increased less than that of TE genes. These results suggested that expression variation of CE genes and TE genes could account for the robustness and plasticity of acclimation ability of Miscanthus, respectively. The patterns of expression variation revealed by transcriptomic network would shed new light on breeding and domestication of energy crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilai Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chengcheng Tao
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhihong Song
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Juan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Lifang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Cong Lin
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Tao Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
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Chen L, Zhao Y, Xu S, Zhang Z, Xu Y, Zhang J, Chong K. OsMADS57 together with OsTB1 coordinates transcription of its target OsWRKY94 and D14 to switch its organogenesis to defense for cold adaptation in rice. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 218:219-231. [PMID: 29364524 PMCID: PMC5873253 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Plants modify their development to adapt to their environment, protecting themselves from detrimental conditions such as chilling stress by triggering a variety of signaling pathways; however, little is known about how plants coordinate developmental patterns and stress responses at the molecular level. Here, we demonstrate that interacting transcription factors OsMADS57 and OsTB1 directly target the defense gene OsWRKY94 and the organogenesis gene D14 to trade off the functions controlling/moderating rice tolerance to cold. Overexpression of OsMADS57 maintains rice tiller growth under chilling stress. OsMADS57 binds directly to the promoter of OsWRKY94, activating its transcription for the cold stress response, while suppressing its activity under normal temperatures. In addition, OsWRKY94 was directly targeted and suppressed by OsTB1 under both normal and chilling temperatures. However, D14 transcription was directly promoted by OsMADS57 for suppressing tillering under the chilling treatment, whereas D14 was repressed for enhancing tillering under normal condition.We demonstrated that OsMADS57 and OsTB1 conversely affect rice chilling tolerance via targeting OsWRKY94. Our findings highlight a molecular genetic mechanism coordinating organogenesis and chilling tolerance in rice, which supports and extends recent work suggesting that chilling stress environments influence organ differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular PhysiologyInstitute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100093China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular PhysiologyInstitute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100093China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Shujuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular PhysiologyInstitute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100093China
| | - Zeyong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular PhysiologyInstitute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100093China
| | - Yunyuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular PhysiologyInstitute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100093China
| | - Jingyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular PhysiologyInstitute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100093China
| | - Kang Chong
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular PhysiologyInstitute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100093China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
- National Center for Plant Gene ResearchBeijing100093China
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7
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Perennial Grain Legume Domestication Phase I: Criteria for Candidate Species Selection. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10030730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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8
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Xu Q, Song Z, Zhu C, Tao C, Kang L, Liu W, He F, Yan J, Sang T. Systematic comparison of lncRNAs with protein coding mRNAs in population expression and their response to environmental change. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2017; 17:42. [PMID: 28193161 PMCID: PMC5307861 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-017-0984-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a class of non-coding RNA with important regulatory roles in biological process of organisms. The systematic comparison of lncRNAs with protein coding mRNAs in population expression and their response to environmental change are still poorly understood. Here we identified 17,610 lncRNAs and calculated their expression levels based on RNA-seq of 80 individuals of Miscanthus lutarioriparius from two environments, the nearly native habitats and transplanted field, respectively. RESULTS LncRNAs had significantly higher expression diversity and lower expression frequency in population than protein coding mRNAs in both environments, which suggested that lncRNAs may experience more relaxed selection or divergent evolution in population compared with protein coding RNAs. In addition, the increase of expression diversity for lncRNAs was always significantly higher and the magnitude of fold change of expression in new stress environment was significantly larger than protein-coding mRNAs. These results suggested that lncRNAs may be more sensitive to environmental change than protein-coding mRNAs. Analysis of environment-robust and environment-specific lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network between two environments revealed the characterization of lncRNAs in response to environmental change. Furthermore, candidate lncRNAs contributing to water use efficiency (WUE) identified based on the WUE-lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network suggested the roles of lncRNAs in response to environmental change. CONCLUSION Our study provided a comprehensive understanding of expression characterization of lncRNAs in population for M. lutarioriparius under field condition, which would be useful to explore the roles of lncRNAs and could accelerate the process of adaptation in new environment for many plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093 China
| | - Zhihong Song
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Caiyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Chengcheng Tao
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Lifang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093 China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093 China
| | - Fei He
- Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973 USA
| | - Juan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Speciality Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074 China
| | - Tao Sang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093 China
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093 China
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9
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Kantar MB, Tyl CE, Dorn KM, Zhang X, Jungers JM, Kaser JM, Schendel RR, Eckberg JO, Runck BC, Bunzel M, Jordan NR, Stupar RM, Marks MD, Anderson JA, Johnson GA, Sheaffer CC, Schoenfuss TC, Ismail B, Heimpel GE, Wyse DL. Perennial Grain and Oilseed Crops. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 67:703-729. [PMID: 26789233 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-043015-112311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Historically, agroecosystems have been designed to produce food. Modern societies now demand more from food systems-not only food, fuel, and fiber, but also a variety of ecosystem services. And although today's farming practices are producing unprecedented yields, they are also contributing to ecosystem problems such as soil erosion, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. This review highlights the potential benefits of perennial grains and oilseeds and discusses recent progress in their development. Because of perennials' extended growing season and deep root systems, they may require less fertilizer, help prevent runoff, and be more drought tolerant than annuals. Their production is expected to reduce tillage, which could positively affect biodiversity. End-use possibilities involve food, feed, fuel, and nonfood bioproducts. Fostering multidisciplinary collaborations will be essential for the successful integration of perennials into commercial cropping and food-processing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Kantar
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
- Biodiversity Research Center and Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Joe M Kaser
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108; ,
| | - Rachel R Schendel
- Department of Food Chemistry and Phytochemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | - Bryan C Runck
- Department of Geography, Environment, and Society, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
| | - Mirko Bunzel
- Department of Food Chemistry and Phytochemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - George E Heimpel
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108; ,
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10
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Lv Y, Guo Z, Li X, Ye H, Li X, Xiong L. New insights into the genetic basis of natural chilling and cold shock tolerance in rice by genome-wide association analysis. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2016; 39:556-70. [PMID: 26381647 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/12/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
In order to understand cold adaptability and explore additional genetic resources for the cold tolerance improvement of rice, we investigated the genetic variation of 529 rice accessions under natural chilling and cold shock stress conditions at the seedling stage using genome-wide association studies; a total of 132 loci were identified. Among them, 12 loci were common for both chilling and cold shock tolerance, suggesting that rice has a distinct and overlapping genetic response and adaptation to the two stresses. Haplotype analysis of a known gene OsMYB2, which is involved in cold tolerance, revealed indica-japonica differentiation and latitude tendency for the haplotypes of this gene. By checking the subpopulation and geographical distribution of accessions with tolerance or sensitivity under these two stress conditions, we found that the chilling tolerance group, which mainly consisted of japonica accessions, has a wider latitudinal distribution than the chilling sensitivity group. We conclude that the genetic basis of natural chilling stress tolerance in rice is distinct from that of cold shock stress frequently used for low-temperature treatment in the laboratory and the cold adaptability of rice is associated with the subpopulation and latitudinal distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lv
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zilong Guo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xiaokai Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Haiyan Ye
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xianghua Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Lizhong Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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11
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Xing S, Kang L, Xu Q, Fan Y, Liu W, Zhu C, Song Z, Wang Q, Yan J, Li J, Sang T. The Coordination of Gene Expression within Photosynthesis Pathway for Acclimation of C4 Energy Crop Miscanthus lutarioriparius. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:109. [PMID: 26904072 PMCID: PMC4746358 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
As a promising candidate for the second-generation C4 energy crop, Miscanthus lutarioriparius has well acclimated to the water-limited and high-light Loess Plateau in China by improving photosynthesis rate and water use efficiency (WUE) compared to its native habitat along Yangtze River. Photosynthetic genes were demonstrated as one major category of the candidate genes underlying the physiological superiority. To further study how photosynthetic genes interact to improve the acclimation potential of M. lutarioriparius, population expression patterns within photosynthesis pathway were explored between one mild environment and one harsh environment. We found that 108 transcripts in assembled transcriptome of M. lutarioriparius were highly similar to genes in three Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) photosynthesis pathways of sorghum and maize. Phylogenetic analyses using sorghum, maize, rice, and Arabidopsis genes of dark reaction identified 23 orthologs and 30 paralogs of M. lutarioriparius photosynthetic genes. These genes were also clustered into two kinds of expression pattern. 87% of transcripts in dark reaction were up-regulated and all 14 chloroplast-encoded transcripts in light reaction increased degradation in the harsh environment compared to the mild environment. Moreover, 80.8% of photosynthetic transcripts were coordinated at transcription level under the two environments. Interestingly, LHCI and PSI were significantly correlated with F-ATPase and C4 cycle. Overall, this study indicates the coordinated expression between cyclic electron transport (consisting of LHCI, PSI, and ATPase) and CO2-concentrating mechanism (C4 cycle) could account for photosynthesis plasticity on M. lutarioriparius acclimation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilai Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Lifang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Qin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Yangyang Fan
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Caiyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Zhihong Song
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Juan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Jianqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Tao Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
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12
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Fan Y, Wang Q, Kang L, Liu W, Xu Q, Xing S, Tao C, Song Z, Zhu C, Lin C, Yan J, Li J, Sang T. Transcriptome-wide characterization of candidate genes for improving the water use efficiency of energy crops grown on semiarid land. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2015; 66:6415-29. [PMID: 26175351 PMCID: PMC4588889 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erv353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the genetic basis of water use efficiency (WUE) and its roles in plant adaptation to a drought environment is essential for the production of second-generation energy crops in water-deficit marginal land. In this study, RNA-Seq and WUE measurements were performed for 78 individuals of Miscanthus lutarioriparius grown in two common gardens, one located in warm and wet Central China near the native habitats of the species and the other located in the semiarid Loess Plateau, the domestication site of the energy crop. The field measurements showed that WUE of M. lutarioriparius in the semiarid location was significantly higher than that in the wet location. A matrix correlation analysis was conducted between gene expression levels and WUE to identify candidate genes involved in the improvement of WUE from the native to the domestication site. A total of 48 candidate genes were identified and assigned to functional categories, including photosynthesis, stomatal regulation, protein metabolism, and abiotic stress responses. Of these genes, nearly 73% were up-regulated in the semiarid site. It was also found that the relatively high expression variation of the WUE-related genes was affected to a larger extent by environment than by genetic variation. The study demonstrates that transcriptome-wide correlation between physiological phenotypes and expression levels offers an effective means for identifying candidate genes involved in the adaptation to environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Fan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lifang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Qin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Shilai Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chengcheng Tao
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhihong Song
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Caiyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cong Lin
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Juan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Jianqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Tao Sang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
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13
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Xu Q, Xing S, Zhu C, Liu W, Fan Y, Wang Q, Song Z, Yang W, Luo F, Shang F, Kang L, Chen W, Yan J, Li J, Sang T. Population transcriptomics reveals a potentially positive role of expression diversity in adaptation. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 57:284-99. [PMID: 25251542 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
While it is widely accepted that genetic diversity determines the potential of adaptation, the role that gene expression variation plays in adaptation remains poorly known. Here we show that gene expression diversity could have played a positive role in the adaptation of Miscanthus lutarioriparius. RNA-seq was conducted for 80 individuals of the species, with half planted in the energy crop domestication site and the other half planted in the control site near native habitats. A leaf reference transcriptome consisting of 18,503 high-quality transcripts was obtained using a pipeline developed for de novo assembling with population RNA-seq data. The population structure and genetic diversity of M. lutarioriparius were estimated based on 30,609 genic single nucleotide polymorphisms. Population expression (Ep ) and expression diversity (Ed ) were defined to measure the average level and the magnitude of variation of a gene expression in the population, respectively. It was found that expression diversity increased while genetic diversity decreased after the species was transplanted from the native habitats to the harsh domestication site, especially for genes involved in abiotic stress resistance, histone methylation, and biomass synthesis under water limitation. The increased expression diversity could have enriched phenotypic variation directly subject to selections in the new environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
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14
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Mi J, Liu W, Yang W, Yan J, Li J, Sang T. Carbon sequestration by Miscanthus energy crops plantations in a broad range semi-arid marginal land in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 496:373-380. [PMID: 25089696 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Carbon sequestration is an essential ecosystem service that second-generation energy crops can provide. To evaluate the ability of carbon sequestration of Miscanthus energy crops in the Loess Plateau of China, the yield and soil organic carbon (SOC) changes were measured for three Miscanthus species in the experimental field in Qingyang of the Gansu Province (QG). With the highest yield of the three species, Miscanthus lutarioriparius contributed to the largest increase of SOC, 0.57 t ha(-1)yr(-1), comparing to the field left unplanted. Through modeling M. lutarioriparius yield across the Loess Plateau, an average increase of SOC was estimated at 0.46 t ha(-1)yr(-1) for the entire region. Based on the measurements of SOC mineralization under various temperatures and moistures for soil samples taken from QG, a model was developed for estimating SOC mineralization rates across the Loess Plateau and resulted in an average of 1.11 t ha(-1)yr(-1). Combining the estimates from these models, the average of net carbon sequestration was calculated at a rate of 9.13 t ha(-1)yr(-1) in the Loess Plateau. These results suggested that the domestication and production of M. lutarioriparius hold a great potential for carbon sequestration and soil restoration in this heavily eroded region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Mi
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Wenhui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Juan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Jianqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Tao Sang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
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15
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Frei M. Lignin: characterization of a multifaceted crop component. ScientificWorldJournal 2013; 2013:436517. [PMID: 24348159 PMCID: PMC3848262 DOI: 10.1155/2013/436517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lignin is a plant component with important implications for various agricultural disciplines. It confers rigidity to cell walls, and is therefore associated with tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses and the mechanical stability of plants. In animal nutrition, lignin is considered an antinutritive component of forages as it cannot be readily fermented by rumen microbes. In terms of energy yield from biomass, the role of lignin depends on the conversion process. It contains more gross energy than other cell wall components and therefore confers enhanced heat value in thermochemical processes such as direct combustion. Conversely, it negatively affects biological energy conversion processes such as bioethanol or biogas production, as it inhibits microbial fermentation of the cell wall. Lignin from crop residues plays an important role in the soil organic carbon cycling, as it constitutes a recalcitrant carbon pool affecting nutrient mineralization and carbon sequestration. Due to the significance of lignin in several agricultural disciplines, the modification of lignin content and composition by breeding is becoming increasingly important. Both mapping of quantitative trait loci and transgenic approaches have been adopted to modify lignin in crops. However, breeding goals must be defined considering the conflicting role of lignin in different agricultural disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Frei
- Division of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crops, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten Straße 13, 53115 Bonn, Germany
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16
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Robson P, Jensen E, Hawkins S, White SR, Kenobi K, Clifton-Brown J, Donnison I, Farrar K. Accelerating the domestication of a bioenergy crop: identifying and modelling morphological targets for sustainable yield increase in Miscanthus. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2013; 64:4143-55. [PMID: 24064927 PMCID: PMC3808307 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ert225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
To accelerate domestication of Miscanthus, an important energy crop, 244 replicated genotypes, including two different species and their hybrids, were analysed for morphological traits and biomass yield over three growing seasons following an establishment phase of 2 years in the largest Miscanthus diversity trial described to date. Stem and leaf traits were selected that contributed both directly and indirectly to total harvested biomass yield, and there was variation in all traits measured. Morphological diversity within the population was correlated with dry matter yield (DMY) both as individual traits and in combination, in order to determine the respective contributions of the traits to biomass accumulation and to identify breeding targets for yield improvement. Predictive morphometric analysis was possible at year 3 within Miscanthus sinensis genotypes but not between M. sinensis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, and interspecific hybrids. Yield is a complex trait, and no single simple trait explained more than 33% of DMY, which varied from 1 to 5297 g among genotypes within this trial. Associating simple traits increased the power of the morphological data to predict yield to 60%. Trait variety, in combination, enabled multiple ideotypes, thereby increasing the potential diversity of the crop for multiple growth locations and end uses. Both triploids and interspecific hybrids produced the highest mature yields, indicating that there is significant heterosis to be exploited within Miscanthus that might be overlooked in early selection screens within years 1-3. The potential for optimizing biomass yield by selecting on the basis of morphology is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Robson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK
| | - Elaine Jensen
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK
| | - Sarah Hawkins
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK
| | - Simon R. White
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Public Health, University Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Kim Kenobi
- Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, Nottingham University, Nottingham LE12 5RD, UK
| | - John Clifton-Brown
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK
| | - Iain Donnison
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK
| | - Kerrie Farrar
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Gogerddan, Aberystwyth SY23 3EE, UK
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed.
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17
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Li X, Hu D, Luo M, Zhu M, Li X, Luo F, Li J, Yan J. Nuclear DNA content variation of three Miscanthus species in China. Genes Genomics 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s13258-013-0063-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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18
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Byrt CS, Grof CPL, Furbank RT. C4 plants as biofuel feedstocks: optimising biomass production and feedstock quality from a lignocellulosic perspective. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2011; 53:120-35. [PMID: 21205189 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.01023.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The main feedstocks for bioethanol are sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and maize (Zea mays), both of which are C(4) grasses, highly efficient at converting solar energy into chemical energy, and both are food crops. As the systems for lignocellulosic bioethanol production become more efficient and cost effective, plant biomass from any source may be used as a feedstock for bioethanol production. Thus, a move away from using food plants to make fuel is possible, and sources of biomass such as wood from forestry and plant waste from cropping may be used. However, the bioethanol industry will need a continuous and reliable supply of biomass that can be produced at a low cost and with minimal use of water, fertilizer and arable land. As many C(4) plants have high light, water and nitrogen use efficiency, as compared with C(3) species, they are ideal as feedstock crops. We consider the productivity and resource use of a number of candidate plant species, and discuss biomass 'quality', that is, the composition of the plant cell wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin S Byrt
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
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19
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Vermerris W. Survey of genomics approaches to improve bioenergy traits in maize, sorghum and sugarcane. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2011; 53:105-19. [PMID: 21205186 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.01020.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Bioenergy crops currently provide the only source of alternative energy with the potential to reduce the use of fossil transportation fuels in a way that is compatible with existing engine technology, including in developing countries. Even though bioenergy research is currently receiving considerable attention, many of the concepts are not new, but rather build on intense research efforts from 30 years ago. A major difference with that era is the availability of genomics tools that have the potential to accelerate crop improvement significantly. This review is focused on maize, sorghum and sugarcane as representatives of bioenergy grasses that produce sugar and/or lignocellulosic biomass. Examples of how genetic mapping, forward and reverse genetics, high-throughput expression profiling and comparative genomics can be used to unravel and improve bioenergy traits will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfred Vermerris
- University of Florida Genetics Institute and Agronomy Department, Cancer/Genetics Research Complex, PO Box 103610, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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20
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Xie G, Peng L. Genetic engineering of energy crops: a strategy for biofuel production in China. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2011; 53:143-50. [PMID: 21205188 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.01022.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Biomass utilization is increasingly considered as a practical way for sustainable energy supply and long-term environment care around the world. In concerns with food security in China, starch or sugar-based bioethanol and edible-oil-derived biodiesel are harshly restricted for large scale production. However, conversion of lignocellulosic residues from food crops is a potential alternative. Because of its recalcitrance, current biomass process is unacceptably expensive, but genetic breeding of energy crops is a promising solution. To meet the need, energy crops are defined with a high yield for both food and biofuel purposes. In this review, main grasses (rice, wheat, maize, sorghum and miscanthus) are evaluated for high biomass production, the principles are discussed on modification of plant cell walls that lead to efficient biomass degradation and conversion, and the related biotechnologies are proposed in terms of energy crop selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guosheng Xie
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Biomass and Bioenergy Research Centre, and College of Plant Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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21
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Parry MAJ, Jing HC. Bioenergy plants: Hopes, concerns and prospectives. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2011; 53:94-95. [PMID: 21205192 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.01029.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
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