Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
Miscanthus
Toshihiko Yamada
Abstract Miscanthus
is a perennial rhizomatous warm-season C
4
grass species
and is native throughout Eastern Asia and Pacific islands, ranging from tropical
Polynesia to southern Siberia. Conventionally, the genus showed some attractive
features for domestic uses such as livestock feed, as green manure, as well as roof
materials for traditional Asian houses. In recent years, the genus has received
considerable attention as a feedstock source of biorefineries such as biofuel pro-
duction for sustainable renewable energy in cold and temperate environments.
Miscanthus
giganteus
, which is a triploid hybrid between
M. sinensis
and
M. sacchariflorus
, exhibits promise as a biomass crop because it has high biomass
productivity under cold and temperate environments, low fertilizer requirements,
and high ability of carbon stock in soil. However, presently only one genotype of
M.
giganteus
is widely cultivated. This came from a germplasm introduced to
Europe from Japan in 1935, resulting to an increased risk of widespread plant
mortality due to diseases or pests. Therefore, the collection of genetic resources of
Miscanthus
spp. and genetic improvement of
Miscanthus
spp. through hybridiza-
tion and selection methods is essential for future increase in feedstock production.
Molecular breeding will offer good opportunities, especially for value-added traits
such as enhanced biomass, abiotic stress tolerance, and saccharification efficiency.
This chapter describes the genetics and breeding of
Miscanthus
spp., their charac-
teristics and their taxonomy, and progress in genetic improvement of
Miscanthus
spp. through conventional and molecular breeding including current research activ-
ities of the author's group.
Keywords Miscanthus
spp. •
M.
giganteus
•
M. sinensis
•
M. sacchariflorus
•
Feedstock source • Biorefineries • Interspecific hybridization • Renewable energy •
Lignocellulosic energy crop • Warm-season C
4
grass
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